Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that he will not try to stop “world-class” Kyle Walker from leaving the club in January. The Spaniard believes it is completely the right-back’s decision and only he should take the final call.
After leaving Walker out of the squad to face Salford City in the FA Cup 3rd Round, Guardiola announced the Englishman had expressed the desire to finish his career outside of England. The former Tottenham Hotspur player is looking to seal his exit in January itself.
Guardiola said after the 8-0 win (via GOAL):
“Well, it’s not easy for me to say it because he should say it but he’s not here so two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end his career.”
“We cannot understand the success we have had these years without Kyle, it’s impossible. He gave us something we didn’t have he has been amazing but now in his mind, he would like to explore going to another country to play the last few years for many reasons. For that reason, I prefer to play other players whose minds are here.”
Pep Guardiola Says He Will Not Block Kyle Walker’s Manchester City Exit
Guardiola believes Walker is an excellent player and still has up to four years of top-tier football left in him. However, he is not even entertaining the idea of keeping Walker at City against his will.
Guardiola said on Sunday, 12th January:
“He is an incredible player with his incredible physicality. When he is focused he is unstoppable as a right-back. He’s a top-class player.
“If he is fit he can play one, two, three, four more years as a professional. I have never seen a player with these physical conditions in my career. But if he wants to explore (other options), the club is going to explore, and he has to decide, not me. It’s not my decision.”
He concluded by adding:
“It depends on him. The transfer window will finish when it finishes and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Walker, 34, has played 319 games for Man City since joining from Spurs in July 2017. He has scored six goals and provided 23 assists, helping the team to six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy, among other honours.
