Manchester City star, Kyle Walker, found himself at the center of controversy during Sunday's Manchester derby. His theatrics on the pitch have led to widespread ridicule and speculation that an apology is imminent. Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand has weighed in on the incident, predicting that Walker will soon be 'making an apology'.
During a tense match between rivals Manchester City and Manchester United, which ended with a thrilling 2-1 victory for United, one moment stood out above all others. Midway through the first half, Rasmus Hojlund was aggressively barged over by defender Kyle Walker. This resulted in a heated confrontation between the two players. In what many have described as comical or pitiful antics, Walker dramatically fell to the ground as if he had been headbutted when they came nose-to-nose. This sparked off practically a full 22-man melee on the pitch.
Replays of this incident clearly showed that there was no reason for Walker to go down in such a manner. This not only exonerated Hojlund but also led to waves of online ridicule directed at Walker.
Reaction from Rio Ferdinand
Former Manchester United defender and now podcast host Rio Ferdinand did not hold back his thoughts about this incident either. He insisted that Kyle must regret his actions and predicted an impending apology from him for his attempt to get Hojlund sent off.
Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United legend, said:
"Kyle Walker, we need to talk, that wasn't it. That wasn't it, bruv! You know it!"
"I think Kyle Walker is going to make an apology at some point. Not right now because there are bigger things to do with the club and everything, but in time. He'll come on the pod one day and go, 'do you know what, it wasn't a good one. I won't be watching that again'."
Hojlund himself took it with humor after the game by posting a photo of him squaring up against Walker with an amusing caption: "Manchester is red. Violets are blue. What a brilliant performance... But the Oscar goes to..."
Tough season for Kyle Walker
This season hasn't been particularly kind to 34-year-old Kyle Walker so far either - both professionally and personally. He faced criticism earlier this month following City's defeat against Juventus in the Champions League. This led to a barrage of vile racist insults directed at him on social media.
For the first time in his career at Etihad, Walker's long-term future with the club seems under genuine threat. His recent performance and antics have not only drawn criticism but also raised questions about his role and future within Manchester City.
While Manchester United celebrated their first victory at Etihad Stadium since March 2021, Kyle Walker's actions during the game have overshadowed this achievement to some extent. As sports fans and betting enthusiasts continue to dissect every moment of this thrilling match, it remains to be seen whether Rio Ferdinand's prediction of an apology from Walker will come true.
