Pep Guardiola's statement in full as Man City boss explains Kyle Walker transfer bombshell
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Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kyle Walker has asked to leave Manchester City and move abroad in the January transfer window. Walker, who is City's captain, was absent from the squad as they thrashed Salford City 8-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. And Guardiola revealed after the game that Walker's absence was due to him asking to leave.
"It's not easy for me to say but Kyle is not here because two days ago he asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career," Guardiola said. "He asked two years ago after the Treble, when Bayern wanted him, but the offer was not good enough.
"We cannot understand the success we've had these years without Kyle. It's impossible. Having a right-back (like him) gave us something that we didn't have and he has been amazing. But now he would like to explore it, to go to another country, to play the last years (somewhere else) for many reasons.
"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. "Kyle asked to explore. It doesn't mean it's going to happen, you never know. I respect him a lot because I'm more than grateful for what he has done since he arrived eight years ago. After the first season here we started to win, win, win, win, win, win.
