Man City told Kyle Walker transfer decision played role in Champions League defeat to Real Madrid

Evening Standard

·11 de fevereiro de 2025

Man City told Kyle Walker transfer decision played role in Champions League defeat to Real Madrid

Vinicius Junior enjoyed plenty of success against Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis

Wayne Rooney questioned Manchester City’s “really odd” decision to let Kyle Walker leave the club in January.

Vídeos OneFootball

The right-back told City he wanted to move abroad last month and joined AC Milan on loan until the end of the season, with the Italian club having the option to make it a permanent deal in the summer.

Matheus Nunes has filled in at times at right-back in Walker’s absence and on Tuesday night it was Manuel Akanji at full-back against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side snatched a 3-2 win at the Etihad in the first leg of the play-off tie, as Brahim Diaz equalised with four minutes of normal time remaining and Jude Bellingham scored a stoppage-time winner.

Vinicius Junior was a constant threat as he was named player of the match, causing Akanji problems and then getting the better of substitute Rico Lewis, and it led to Rooney criticising City’s willingness to sanction Walker’s exit.

“I think you’ve seen the important of Kyle Walker to Man City over the last seven, eight years,” Rooney told Amazon Prime.

“I think it’s so strange to see Kyle Walker being allowed to go out on loan to AC Milan. Akanji is not a right-back, Rico Lewis is a young player playing in different positions.

“At this point in the season where Man City are struggling, Kyle Walker is the captain of the football club. To allow him to go on loan to me is really odd.”

Clarence Seedorf, also on punditry duty at the Etihad, added: “[Walker] was allowing the team to be able to play the way they play.

“To recover mistakes and deep balls. I remember the battles with Vinicius even last season.”