Kyle Walker has asked to leave Manchester City, says Pep Guardiola | Football news
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that captain Kyle Walker has asked to leave the club.
Walker, 34, was left out of City’s squad for Saturday FA Cup win over Salford 8-0.
After the game, Guardiola said: “”In his mind, he would like to explore it, to go to another country, to play in recent years (somewhere else) for many reasons.
“For that reason, I prefer to play against other players whose mind is here.”
Walker has helped City win 17 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League, since joining the club in a £50m deal from Tottenham in 2017.
He came close to joining Bayern Munich after City’s treble in 2023 but signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2026.
Guardiola said: “We cannot understand the success we have achieved these years without Kyle. It is impossible.
“Having a right-back (like him) gave us something we didn’t have and he was incredible.
“But he said he wanted, in his mind and heart, to explore it.”
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