Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kyle Walker has asked to leave Manchester City, opening the door to a potential exit during the January transfer window.
Walker was not in the squad as City beat Salford City 8-0 in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.
The 34-year-old has struggled for form this season, has not started the past four matches and has not taken the captain’s armband when coming off the bench against Leicester City on Boxing Day and West Ham United last weekend.
He came close to a move to Bayern Munich in 2023 and attracted interest from Saudi Arabia last summer, and now appears ready to move on this month.
Asked why Walker was not in the squad for Saturday’s clash, Guardiola took a moment before saying: “It’s not easy for me to say because he should say, but he’s not here, so two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career.
“He asked two years ago after the treble, Bayern Munich I think wanted him but the offer was not good enough and I and the club (told) him how important he is. You cannot understand the success we have had these years without Kyle, it’s impossible, he gave us something we didn’t have, he’s been amazing.
“But now in his mind he would like to explore already to go to another country to play the last years for many reasons, and for that reason I played other players whose mind is here.”
Although Guardiola did not explain exactly why Walker has asked to leave before the end of the season, he did suggest that Walker no longer feels like he can play at his best level at City.
“Maybe I am wrong but still I am pretty convinced that there is not one person in our jobs, whatever job, that doesn’t want to be where they can’t perform or be what they want to be,” said Guardiola.
“He asked just to explore, it doesn’t mean it is going to happen because you never know. I respect him a lot because I am more than grateful for what he has done for us, he has been important with the England national team, important for our team but he said, ‘I want to explore in my mind and my heart’. Honestly I don’t know if it will happen.”
Walker joined City from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 and has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League since then.
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Kyle Walker is caught in the grip of a crisis. He has become the on-pitch face of Man City’s struggles
(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
