Kyle Walker has been left out of the Manchester City squad that will face Brentford by Pep Guardiola as the England star’s transfer away from the Premier League edges closer
Kyle Walker has been left out of the Manchester City team to face Brentford on Tuesday night as his Premier League exit draws closer.
The England international is poised to leave the Etihad Stadium after seven-and-half-years and looks to be heading to Italy on loan for the rest of the season. Both Inter and AC Milan are in the race for his signature after Guardiola revealed Walker had asked to leave Manchester.
Guardiola explained that Walker’s absence from the FA Cup squad that hosted Salford City on Saturday was due to his wish to seek a new challenge abroad. The Spaniard also admitted that he’s unsure whether the City captain has played his final game for the club.
However, it appears that might be the case with the 34-year-old omitted again from the City side that has travelled to Brentford for the Premier League matchup tonight at the Gtech Community Stadium, according to the Daily Mail.
Walker also has interest in his services from Saudi Arabia, with a host of their heavy-spending teams including Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli in the race. However, the defender is said to want to remain in Europe for his family in a bid to save his marriage to childhood sweetheart Annie Kilner.
The couple almost got divorced at the end of last year after it was uncovered that Walker has secretly fathered a second child with his ex Lauryn Goodman.
Annie, who was pregnant at the time with their fourth child, is said to be “quietly working on her relationship with Kyle behind the scenes.”
A separate article by the Mail, quoted an insider claiming that Annie will be joining Walker in Italy when his move is finalised. “Annie will be on the plane with him along with the kids. They’ve had well-publicised struggles but are now looking to put all that behind them and start afresh in Italy.”
Guardiola previously dropped the bombshell after Walker’s future following City’s 8-0 FA Cup demolition of Salford on Saturday.
“It’s not easy for me to say but Kyle is not here because two days ago he asked to explore the option to play abroad,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference.
“He asked after the Treble, when Bayern wanted him, but the offer was not good enough. For that reason, I prefer to play other players whose mind is here. Kyle went to Txiki Begiristain. Maybe I am wrong but I am pretty convinced that you should keep no-one who doesn’t want to be here.”