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

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed captain Kyle Walker has asked to leave the club.

Walker, 34, was left out of City's squad for Saturday's 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford.

After the game, Guardiola said: "In his [Walker's] mind, 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 playing other players whose mind is here."

Walker has helped City win 17 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League, since joining the club in a £50m deal from switch Tottenham in 2017.

He was close to joining Bayern Munich after City's treble win in 2023 but signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2026.

Guardiola said: "We cannot understand the success we've had these years without Kyle. It's impossible.

"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."

The England international has seen his minutes reduced this season, only starting nine games in the Premier League, and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Live Sportly' Lewis Jones:

A parting of ways between Walker and Manchester City does make sense for both parties. Walker may have asked to leave but there will not be much resistance from the decision-makers at the club based on the clear decline of the England international's powers this season. A player who has built his career on being almost unbeatable in one-on-one duels is now an easy target to exploit for opposition wide players.

Even Timo Werner, who is suffering with form and confidence issues at Tottenham, showed Walker a clean pair of heels to set up Spurs' fourth goal in that chastening defeat for City earlier this season.

It led Live Sportly' Gary Neville to say: "You don't see that very often, but we've seen it a few times in the last couple of weeks. Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, he's handled them all, Walker, but he's struggling."

Walker's errors are not just odd ones either, they are bringing catalogue vibes. As the with-and-without statistics suggest, his presence has become a hindrance rather than a help for Guardiola.

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