Pep Guardiola revealed Kyle Walker is ready to depart Manchester Metropolis after the defender expressed a need to “discover the choice to play overseas and finish his profession”.
Guardiola confirmed Walker’s needs to hunt out a brand new expertise throughout his post-match feedback following Metropolis’s 8-0 thrashing of Salford Metropolis within the FA Cup Third Spherical on the Etihad on Saturday.
The Metropolis boss additionally singled out Salford-born midfielder James McAtee for reward after the 22-year-old scored a second-half hat-trick within the emphatic win.
Jeremy Doku (2), Jack Grealish, Nico O’Reilly and debutant Divin Mubama accomplished the scoring as Metropolis continued their robust begin to 2025.
FULL-TIME | Within the hat 🎩
🩵 8-0 🔴 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/uVvzcCGHIs
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) January 11, 2025
However they may quickly be with out Walker, who was lacking from the matchday squad, after his supervisor mentioned the 34-year-old – who has amassed greater than 200 appearances for the membership – has requested to depart the Etihad after eight years.
“Two days in the past Kyle [Walker] requested to discover the choice to play overseas and finish his profession,” Guardiola mentioned.
Guardiola additionally revealed that the England worldwide had requested about departing after curiosity from Bayern Munich following Metropolis’s treble triumph in 2023.
“I requested him, the membership requested him, how essential is that this?” the Metropolis supervisor mentioned.
“However now in his thoughts he wish to discover to go to a different nation. For that motive, I choose to play different gamers whose thoughts is right here, that’s all.’
“He’s asking to discover [his options] so it could not occur, we don’t know, you by no means know. Discover the state of affairs and I respect quite a bit. I’m greater than grateful what he has executed for a few years for us.
“However he has mentioned he needs to discover in his thoughts and in his coronary heart and desires to discover it. Truthfully? I don’t know what will occur.”
A hat-trick for James McAtee! ⚽️⚽️⚽️#MCISAL #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Pg1eILQEzy
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 11, 2025
Talking about McAtee’s efficiency, Guardiola added: “I’m so joyful for him, he’s a particular participant.
“Making a hat-trick shouldn’t be simple. He began a bit flat I’d say, however after he has an unbelievable sense in entrance of the purpose. He has the fitting tempo, modified the rhythm to attain and actually joyful for him.”
“He’s a Metropolis supporter, within the academy for a lot of, a few years. He was one of many largest skills for his era of Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Liam Delap.
“He was taking part in with these guys and all the time he was the captain of them. I’m actually, actually happy he’s right here with us.”
Metropolis shall be hoping to increase their successful run to 4 video games after they journey to Brentford within the Premier League on Tuesday.
