Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed that club captain Kyle Walker has expressed his desire to leave the reigning English champions to explore opportunities abroad.
Walker, 34, has been a cornerstone of City’s success since joining from Tottenham in 2017 for £50 million ($61 million), amassing 15 major trophies, including six Premier League titles.
“Two days ago, Kyle asked to explore the options of playing abroad and ending his career,” Guardiola said following City’s emphatic 8-0 FA Cup third-round win over Salford, a match in which Walker did not feature.
Guardiola acknowledged that Walker had previously requested to leave at the start of the 2023/24 season amid interest from Bayern Munich but was persuaded to remain at the Etihad and subsequently signed a new contract until 2026.
“He asked (to leave) two years ago after the Treble. Bayern Munich wanted him, but the offer wasn’t good enough. The club and I convinced him to stay because of how important he is,” Guardiola explained. “We cannot understand the success we’ve had over the years without Kyle. It’s impossible. Having a right-back like him gave us something unique, and he has been amazing.”
Walker, capped 93 times by England, has also played a pivotal role in the Three Lions’ recent successes, featuring in squads that reached the last two European Championship finals.
However, his struggles with form and fitness this season have contributed to City’s underwhelming performances. Guardiola’s side managed just one win in 13 games between October 30 and December 29, falling out of contention for the Premier League title and exiting the League Cup.
As Walker considers closing this chapter of his career, City faces the challenge of adapting to life without one of their most influential players.
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