Kyle Walker has asked to leave Manchester City to go and play abroad, Pep Guardiola dramatically revealed on Saturday.
Walker was left out of the matchday squad for the 8-0 FA Cup third round win over Salford City despite being fit and available to feature.
After the win Guardiola confirmed that on Thursday Walker spoke to him and asked to leave City to ‘explore opportunities abroad’.
‘Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career,’ he said.
‘He asked two years ago after the Treble. Bayern Munich wanted him but the offer was not good enough.
‘I asked him, the club asked him, how important is this?
Man City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed club captain Kyle Walker has asked to leave
Walker has won six Premier League titles since joining Manchester City back in 2017
Guardiola revealed Walker has asked to be able to ‘explore the options to play abroad’
‘We cannot understand the success the club had these years without Kyle. It’s impossible. He gave us something we didn’t have and he’s been amazing.
‘But now in his mind he would like to explore to go to another country. For that reason, I prefer to play other players whose mind is here, that’s all.’
There is interest in Walker from Saudi Arabia and having fallen out of the starting line-up with the reigning Premier League champions, the 34-year-old has taken matters into his own hands to try and seal his exit this month.
‘He went to the club,’ Guardiola added.
‘I’m pretty convinced that there is no one person in our job that doesn’t want to be where they are can perform.
‘He’s asking to explore [his options] so it may not happen, we don’t know, you never know. Explore the situation and I respect a lot. I am more than grateful what he has done for many years for us.
‘He arrived eight years ago with us and we start to win, win, win, win and he has been important for the national team and of course with our team.
‘But he has said he wants to explore in his mind and in his heart and wants to explore it. Honestly? I don’t know what is going to happen.’
Walker penned a contract extension following interest from Bayern Munich and last year spoke of how he felt he wanted to ‘escape’ City due to the scrutiny on his private life.
‘I tried to escape,’ he told the Sun in January 2024.
‘Did I want to leave City? No, of course I didn’t. We’re the best team in the world at the minute. But it was a chance to get away from England and the media I was going to get.
‘I was aware the clock was ticking. I came very close to moving. We were having conversations. I was going to a great club, a massive club. But in the end I couldn’t go.’
Guardiola’s public declaration that Walker is now pushing for an escape route increases the pressure to see if a deal can be agreed for a player that will turn 35 before the season is out.
