-
Kyle Walker reveals how Manchester City exit conversation went with Pep Guardiola and New Chapter at AC Milan
Kyle Walker has revealed the emotional and challenging conversation he had with Pep Guardiola about leaving Manchester City, following his move to AC Milan on a six-month loan with an option to buy.
The 34-year-old full-back, who spent nearly eight years at the Etihad Stadium, admitted that discussing his departure with Guardiola wasn’t easy due to the immense respect they share.
“When I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t a very comfortable conversation – mainly because of the respect we have for each other,” Walker shared. “What he’s won at Manchester City, I’ve won it too. I like to think he knows what I bring to a dressing room, the atmosphere I create.”
Walker, a key figure in City’s dominance during his tenure, made 319 appearances across all competitions after joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 for £50m. However, reduced playing time, spurred by the rise of Rico Lewis and the versatility of players like Matheus Nunes, led Walker to seek a fresh challenge.
View this post on Instagram
Reflecting on his decision, Walker said, “City was my family – from the cooks to the cleaners, the kit men and physios. I like to think I was liked and helped everyone blend in. But things weren’t going well there, and I wasn’t playing enough football. Hopefully, I can play a bit more here.”
While he could have stayed and honored his contract, Walker explained that the opportunity to join a club like AC Milan felt right: “It comes down to challenges where you think, ‘OK, I need to try something different.’ I’ve spoken to many ex-players who never moved abroad and told me they wished they had. If it hadn’t been a big club, I’d have stayed with City. There are only certain clubs you can’t say no to, and this was the opportunity I wanted—I had a gut feeling.”
Walker’s first game for Milan could be a baptism of fire, as the Rossoneri face fierce rivals Inter at the iconic San Siro on Sunday. Fans eagerly await the veteran’s impact as he begins this exciting new chapter in Serie A.