Walker´s want to play overseas key to Milan transfer
Kyle Walker says chatting with former gamers who regretted spending their complete careers in England motivated him to hitch AC Milan on mortgage from Manchester Metropolis.
Walker joined the Rossoneri on a season-long mortgage deal final week, with the Serie A giants having an choice to make the deal everlasting for €5million (£4.2m).
The proper-back had fallen out of favour on the Etihad Stadium after enduring a drop in kind, whereas he solely performed in three of England’s six Nations League video games beneath interim boss Lee Carsley earlier than the flip of the yr.
Walker ought to get common minutes at San Siro, with Milan’s first-choice right-back Emerson Royal dealing with two months on the sidelines after struggling a calf harm.
Whereas that was one consideration Walker weighed up earlier than making the transfer, he was additionally eager to make sure he skilled taking part in overseas earlier than the tip of his profession.
“I may have stayed in Manchester, I might have honoured the contract in the event that they hadn’t let me depart as a result of that’s me as an individual,” Walker stated at his unveiling on Monday.
“But it surely comes all the way down to challenges the place you assume, ‘okay, I have to attempt one thing completely different’.
“I’ve spoken to many ex-players who by no means moved overseas and advised me they wished they’d.
“If it hadn’t been a giant membership, I’d have stayed with Metropolis. There are particular golf equipment you’ll be able to’t say no to, and this was the chance I wished, I had a intestine feeling.”
Only a contact of red-n-black at our By way of Dante Flagship Retailer #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/AkoQla0v7o
— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 27, 2025
Walker made 319 appearances for Metropolis after arriving from Tottenham in 2017, profitable 15 main trophies, together with six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.
He was near becoming a member of Bayern Munich within the aftermath of Metropolis’s European success, solely to pen a contract extension to run till June 2026.
Walker advised Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola of his want to go away the Etihad at the beginning of the January switch window, and he says it was an uncomfortable dialog.
“After I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t a really comfy dialog – primarily due to the respect we’ve got for one another,” he stated.
“What he’s gained at Manchester Metropolis, I’ve gained it, too. I wish to assume he is aware of what I convey to a dressing room, the environment I create.
“I wish to assume I used to be appreciated and helped everybody mix in. However issues weren’t going effectively there, and I wasn’t taking part in sufficient soccer. Hopefully, I can play a bit extra right here.”
