- Kyle Walker joined AC Milan on loan after admitting he wanted to leave Man City
- The England right-back admitted the move was the ‘opportunity he wanted’
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! We need Arsenal’s personality! This needle is what the Premier League is all about
Kyle Walker endured a difficult end to the calendar year in a Manchester City shirt before sealing a move to AC Milan on loan until the end of the season, but reports now appear to reveal why he decided to leave the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola had admitted that the player was keen to move away, with the player looking ‘to explore the options to play abroad’ towards the end of his career, having only played in England at that point.
Prior to his departure, Walker opened up on the moment he told Guardiola about his wish to leave City, admitting it ‘wasn’t a very comfortable conversation’.
Now, thought, reports claim that the defender realised that he ‘could no longer cut it’ at Man City ahead of the window, before asking for a move.
The Athletic claim the player had come to the realisation, and combined with his hopes to play abroad, was quick to make the move happen.
They add that the player had also spoken to AC Milan advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which fed into his decision.
Kyle Walker sealed a move from Man City to AC Milan at the start of the January window
It’s been revealed that the England international realised that he couldn’t cut it at Manchester City
In total, Walker only started nine of City’s 23 Premier League matches, making way for the likes of Rico Lewis and even midfielder Matheus Nunes at right-back.
Opening up on his Manchester City exit during a press conference in Milan, Walker said: ‘When I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t a very comfortable conversation – mainly because of the respect we have for each other.
‘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 is widely-regarded as one of the Premier League’s best ever players in his position, having won six titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and one Champions League during his eight-year spell at the Etihad.
Despite wanting to leave, the 34-year-old defender urged that he would have remained at the Etihad and given his all, even if a suitable club was not found by the close of the window.
