- Josep Guardiola was reportedly disappointed that Kyle Walker informed the club’s director before speaking to him about his decision to leave
- Walker admitted his final conversation with Guardiola was uncomfortable
- Milan signed Walker on loan with an option to buy for under £5 million
Key Takeaways:
Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola was reportedly left disappointed by Kyle Walker’s handling of his departure, according to The Athletic. The right-back, who left after eight years at the Etihad to join Milan, did not upset the coach with his decision to move on but rather with the way he communicated it. Guardiola expected Walker to inform him first, but instead, the Englishman shared his decision with the club’s football director, Txiki Begiristain, before speaking with the manager.
Kyle Walker conveyed his desire to leave #ManCity to Txiki Begiristain. 👤
This disappointed Pep Guardiola who felt that due to their good relationship, the captain could come to him with anything. 🗣️
📰 @SamLee via @nytimes pic.twitter.com/WBbnhMfxjk
— City HQ (@City_HQs) February 4, 2025
Walker addressed the situation during his first press conference as a Milan player, admitting that his conversation with Guardiola was not the most comfortable. The 34-year-old full-back decided to leave after making just nine Premier League starts this season. Milan secured him on loan with an option to buy for under £5 million in the summer, making it highly likely that he has already played his last match for Manchester City.