Kyle Walker Shares Details Of Manchester City Exit Talks With Pep Guardiola

Kyle Walker has admitted that talking to Pep Guardiola about leaving Manchester City “wasn’t a very comfortable conversation”, primarily because of the respect he holds for the six-time Premier League winner.

Walker joined AC Milan last Friday on a six-month loan deal that includes an option to buy in the summer, marking the end of his nearly eight-year period at the Etihad Stadium.

The veteran full-back had been a constant in Guardiola’s side since his arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £50m, making 319 appearances across all competitions.

However, a decline in performance, along with the rise of Rico Lewis and the adaptability of players like Matheus Nunes, resulted in Walker’s playing time at City decreasing.

This prompted the Sheffield United academy graduate to decide it was time to pursue a new opportunity.

Walker promptly decided to speak to Guardiola about his desire to take on a new challenge but revealed that it wasn’t an easy chat to have.

“When I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t a very comfortable conversation mainly because of the respect we have for each other,” Walker said.

“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.

“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.

Walker added, “I could have stayed in Manchester; I would have honored the contract if they hadn’t let me leave because that’s me as a person. But 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 debut for his new club may occur in the most significant match imaginable, as Milan is set to compete against rivals Inter at San Siro on Sunday.