Kyle Walker’s determination to go away Manchester Metropolis in the course of the January switch window is reported to have been motivated by a stark realisation.
Walker loved seven and a half vastly profitable years at Metropolis, successful six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, 4 League Cups and the Champions League.
However his kind suffered a nasty dip in direction of the top of 2024, coinciding with a dreadful run of outcomes which have derailed the membership’s ambitions of an unprecedented fifth successive league title.
Walker had lengthy held a need to expertise enjoying overseas, linked with Bayern Munich not way back, whereas a difficult state of affairs in his private life might have additionally made the choice to pursue that now a bit simpler. His exit additionally got here after an uncomfortable dialog with Pep Guardiola.
The Athletic report that, finally, 34-year-old Walker “felt that he might not reduce it at Metropolis”, so when the chance to hitch AC Milan got here up, he met with sporting director Zlatan Ibrahimovic and “jumped on the likelihood” to make the transfer.
Milan maintain a £5m choice to make the mortgage everlasting. There is no such thing as a certainty both means over whether or not that might be taken and Walker has one other season on left on his contract with Metropolis, however his parting message final month appeared to have a finite tone, as if he does not count on to return.
“After I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t a really snug dialog – primarily due to the respect we’ve for one another. What he is gained at Manchester Metropolis, I’ve gained it too. I prefer to assume he is aware of what I convey to a dressing room, the environment I create,” Walker mentioned.
“Metropolis was my household – from the cooks to the cleaners, the package males and physios. I prefer to assume I used to be favored and helped everybody mix in. However issues weren’t going effectively there and I wasn’t enjoying sufficient soccer. Hopefully I can play a bit extra [in Milan].
“I might have stayed in Manchester, I’d have honoured the contract in the event that they hadn’t let me go away as a result of that’s me as an individual. However it comes right down to challenges the place you assume ‘OK I must attempt one thing completely different’.
“I’ve spoken to many ex-players who by no means moved overseas and informed me they wished they’d. If it hadn’t been an enormous membership I might have stayed with Metropolis. There are solely sure golf equipment you possibly can’t say no to and this was the chance I wished, I had a intestine feeling.”
