Manchester City players begged for Kyle Walker to stay at the Etihad Stadium during the summer transfer window.
That is according to the Daily Mail.
So, what was written about Kyle Walker and Manchester City? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, the England international very nearly left Manchester City after winning the treble last season.
The Daily Mail believe Walker considered a move to Bayern Munich after lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, even discussing the situation with Harry Kane, who did join the German giants.
Interestingly, the Daily Mail add that Manchester City players pleaded with those in the boardroom at the Etihad Stadium to give the 33-year-old what he wanted during contract negotiations.
Some may automatically think that Walker wanted more money.
However, the Daily Mail believe it was not about finances – Manchester City and Bayern Munich eventually put the same amount on the negotiating table.
Walker is said to have simply wanted the longest contract possible to secure his future in one place, as many footballers over the age of 30 usually have to settle for 12-month extensions at best.
As things stand, the Manchester City No.2 is now believed to earn £175,000-a-week.
Kyle Walker is immensely popular at Manchester City
In our view, it speaks volumes that a treble winning squad fought for a 33-year-old defender, who did not even start the UEFA Champions League final, to stay for another two years.
Whether he is playing or not, Walker is quite obviously a highly valued figure within the dressing room at Manchester City, something the Citizens must consider when his new contract expires in June 2026.
If Walker can still offer something valuable behind the scenes by that point in terms of leadership, and is also able to perform when called upon, Manchester City could even give him another extension.
Whatever happens later down the line, nobody can argue that the Sheffield-born defender isn’t one of Pep Guardiola’s most significant players.
