Pep Guardiola confirms Manchester City’s Club World Cup plans for Kyle Walker | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has confirmed whether Kyle Walker will be part of Manchester City’s travelling group to the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup in June.

Walker has spent the second half of the season on loan at AC Milan after a difficult few months near the turn of the year that saw him commit a series of high-profile mistakes and lose his place in the starting XI.

The England international has been one of Pep Guardiola’s best and most successful signings and whilst being widely regarded as the best full-back in Premier League history, Walker’s time at the Etihad Stadium has come to an end.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that club bosses do not consider the 33-year-old part of their plans next season and with the Sheffield-born defender out of contract at Manchester City in 2026, this summer is an ideal time for all parties to shake hands and move on.

Manchester City have identified Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso as a potent replacement for Walker, who left the club midway through what has been a sobering, sub-standard season for the 2023 treble winners.

The former Tottenham man joined Manchester City for a then English record fee for a defender in 2017, winning six Premier League titles and a maiden UEFA Champions League title amongst a plethora of silverware at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s final Premier League game of the season against Fulham on Sunday, Guardiola was asked whether Walker will be part of the group that travels to the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup in June.

“No,” said Guardiola, confirming that Manchester City will not include Walker in their squad for the tournament, which confirms that the right-back will leave the club in the next month as he looks to make a permanent move to AC Milan.

Walker featured in AC Milan’s kit release for the 2025-26 campaign and whilst the Italian side are undergoing financial issues, it is believed that a permanent transfer will be the ultimate resolution that will fit all parties.

Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis and January signing Abdukodir Khusanov have collectively shared the workload at right-back since Walker switched Manchester for Milan and it is a sad ending for the former club captain to have departed the club in the manner things turned out in the end – having been the bedrock of Manchester City’s defence since 2017.