Kyle Walker, the veteran right back, has recently opened up about his regrettable decision to leave Manchester City midway through the 2024-25 campaign. Now playing for Burnley, he admitted that his move to AC Milan on loan was a 'selfish' act and one that he should not have pursued.
Walker started the season as Manchester City’s first-choice right back. However, a sudden slump in form led to six defeats and two draws across nine Premier League games. This unexpected downturn prompted Pep Guardiola, the team's manager, to make several drastic changes in December.
As part of these changes, Walker lost his spot in Guardiola’s lineup. Faced with this new reality and realizing he would no longer be a regular player for Cityzens, Walker decided to push for an exit from the struggling team.
Move to AC Milan
A six-month loan deal with AC Milan was quickly signed by Walker following his decision to leave Manchester City. Despite initially impressing at Milan, a combination of injuries and another slump in form saw him drop out of their starting lineup as well.
The Serie A side had an option to make the move permanent worth around €5 million ($6.7 million), but they declined due to these circumstances. This summer brought about a permanent exit for Walker when Burnley paid a similar fee as AC Milan's declined offer - around €5 million ($6.7 million) - bringing him over to Turf Moor stadium.
Since joining Burnley, he has played every minute of the team’s first seven games of this Premier League season which included an unfortunate 5–1 defeat against his former employers late last month.
Reflecting on his decision
In an interview with Sky Sports recently conducted at Turf Moor Stadium where he now plays, Walker confessed that his role as City captain should have stopped him from leaving in January when the team was struggling on the pitch.
Kyle Walker, Former Manchester City captain, said:
“Should I have left and gone on loan to AC Milan? I was the club captain, and you’re the first one in line when things are not going really well. At that time in the season, should I have left? Looking back at it now, probably no. I should have stood by or next to my teammates, next to my friends and people who I class as my family. But for the first time probably in my career I was selfish and I thought about myself and I wanted to play football.
“I don’t see it as a bad reason but I wasn’t happy sitting on the bench and getting a game here, there and whenever. I felt that I still had a point to prove that I could still play at a high level. When a club like AC Milan comes, I didn’t think I could turn them down. When I came back in the summer I had time to reflect on it. But then I don’t regret it as I always wanted to play abroad and experience that. I’m glad I did the six months, but I probably could have done a bit better.”
Walker's journey from Manchester City to AC Milan and finally to Burnley has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. His recent admission of regret over his 'selfish' decision serves as a reminder of how crucial loyalty can be in sports, especially during challenging times. As Walker continues plying his trade at Burnley, it remains to be seen how this experience will shape his future career decisions.
