Kyle Walker has asked to leave Manchester City, says Pep Guardiola

LONDON – Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has asked to leave the club, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed after their 8-0 thrashing of Salford City in the FA Cup.

The defender was left out of the squad for the third-round tie on Jan 11, with Guardiola saying that the right-back had asked to “explore options abroad”.

The England international was previously linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich after City clinched the treble in 2023.

“Two days ago, Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad and end his career,” Guardiola said. “And for that reason, I preferred playing other players.

“He asked two years ago after the treble, Bayern Munich wanted him but the offer was not good enough.”

The 34-year-old Walker joined City from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth around £50 million (S$83.7 million) in 2017.

He has made 319 appearances for the club, helping Guardiola’s side win 17 trophies, including six Premier League titles and their first Champions League crown.

“We cannot understand the success we have had these years without Kyle – it’s impossible,” Guardiola added.

“I still am pretty convinced that there’s no one in our job that doesn’t want to be where they can perform and be exactly what they want to be.

“He asked to explore, it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen because you never know the situation. I respect him a lot because I’m more than grateful since he has been many years for us. He’s been important for the national team and important for our team.”

Walker has seen his playing time reduced this season, making just nine Premier League starts, with local media suggesting Saudi Arabia could be his next destination. 

On the pitch, a much-changed City side were totally dominant against Salford. Forward Divin Mubama, 20, marked his senior debut with a goal, Jack Grealish ended a year-long goal drought with a penalty and James McAtee bagged a second-half hat-trick.

Mubama doubled City’s lead with a tap-in after Jeremy Doku had given the hosts the lead in the eighth minute and City were out of sight when Nico O’Reilly scored before half-time.

Winger Doku also scored a penalty in the 69th minute.

Salford are co-owned by former Manchester United teammates Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and David Beckham but while they have made great strides and are pushing for promotion from League Two, the fourth-tier side were given a lesson by a slick City.

“Man City and Pep have never disrespected anybody and tonight they showed us why they are what they are and why he is who he is,” Salford boss Karl Robinson said.

His side had not conceded in their last six games but City proved a much tougher hurdle, as Butt and Scholes watched on from the directors’ box and Giggs from the technical area in his role as the club’s football director.

“I have told the players if someone had told me we would concede eight goals in seven games I would have taken it,” Robinson joked. “I just didn’t expect it to be all in one match.”

Brentford were the only Premier League side to fall to lower-league opposition as Plymouth Argyle, who sit bottom of the Championship, stunned the Bees 1-0 thanks to Morgan Whittaker’s late winner.

Chelsea were among the other big winners with a 5-0 demolition of Morecambe.

They booked their place in the fourth round with their hammering of a side who are second from bottom in the fourth tier. Tosin Adarabioyo scored twice for Enzo Maresca’s team, who enjoyed a first win in five games.

Joao Felix also helped himself to a double late on while Christopher Nkunku was also on target for the Blues. REUTERS, AFP