Kyle Walker holds secret ‘leaving party’ as he nears transfer from Man City to one of two Italian teams in bid to keep England career alive – and escape Lauryn Goodman ‘nightmare’
Kyle Walker held a ‘leaving party’ for friends this weekend, with his Manchester City career seemingly at an end.
The England defender is set to end a seven-and-a-half-year stint at the Etihad with a move to Italy for the rest of the season.
Both Milan clubs are vying for his services and Mail Sport understands that any loan agreement could then turn into a two-year permanent deal at its conclusion.
Sources have disclosed that Walker is determined to win 100 caps for England, a situation which forms part of his thinking.
He is currently on 93 and is his country’s vice-captain. However, his standing under new manager Thomas Tuchel remains to be seen.
Walker, 34, was left out of City’s squad for Saturday’s 8-0 rout of Salford City, after which Pep Guardiola revealed he had requested to ‘explore the option’ of playing abroad.
Kyle Walker hosted a ‘leaving party’ ahead of his expected Man City exit during January
The full-back has fallen out of favour with the league champions and has asked to leave
Walker (right) pictured drinking beer in the snow with his pals – including City kit assistant Adam Smith (second from the right) – earlier in the week
The party, for close friends, took place at an as-yet undisclosed location. Walker is understood to have informed the club of his wish to leave on Thursday.
City’s next match is against Brentford on Tuesday and Guardiola disclosed that he has not decided if his captain would play for the club again.
‘I don’t know. It depends on how we are going to train (players perform in training),’ the manager said. ‘It depends on him. The transfer window will finish when it finishes (at the end of the month) and I don’t know what’s going to happen. I said to him: ‘Now it’s a question of the market.’
Guardiola added that the player could continue to play for another four years. ‘He is an incredible player with incredible physicality,’ he said. ‘When he is focused he is unstoppable as a right-back. He’s a top class player, if he is fit, he can play one, two, three or four more years as a professional.
‘I never saw a player with these physical conditions in my career but he has to decide, not me. It’s not my decision.’
Walker’s prolific reputation as one of the world’s best defenders has also continued to capture the interest of Saudi Arabian sides with a host of heavy-spending teams including Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli all showing interest.
Walker could decide to follow his former City team-mate Riyad Mahrez to the oil-rich kingdom and wouldn’t be short of suitors who could offer the veteran a massive payday as he enters the twilight years of his career.
However, he is understood to be keen on staying in Europe for his family and to save his marriage to Annie Kilner.
Walker wants to leave City to keep his international career alive. He has 93 caps for his country
Man City boss Pep Guardiola accepts Walker’s decision and paid tribute to his successes
A potential move to Italy for Walker comes as he is bidding to save his marriage to Annie Kilner
A source said: ‘It was just a few months ago that Annie served Kyle with divorce papers, but she’s having second thoughts’
The news comes after Mail Online reported on Friday that Kilner – is reportedly considering taking back their impending £27million divorce and has moved the star back into the marital home.
The 33-year-old, served Walker, 34, with divorce papers in October and kicked him out of the property after she discovered he had secretly fathered a second child with his ex Lauryn Goodman, 33.
Sources say Annie, who was pregnant with their fourth child when Lauryn dropped the bombshell, is now having second thoughts about their split and is ‘quietly working on her relationship with Kyle behind the scenes’.
The insider told MailOnline: ‘The couple are committed to keeping their family as united as possible and protecting their four boys from any fallout.
‘They enjoyed Christmas together, as a family, and continue to work on their own relationship but as yet no decisions have been made.
‘They would love time and peace away from the spotlight and rumours to be able to continue working on things behind the scenes.
Walker’s estranged wife served him with divorce papers in October and if she is to proceed he will face a mammoth battle for his £27m fortune (pictured with three of their children Roman, 12, Riaan, eight, Reign, six, in December 2023)
Walker, as well as his four children with Annie, shares a son, Kairo, four, and a daughter, Kinara, 18-months, with Lauryn Goodman
They added: ‘There is so much speculation and scrutiny on whether Kyle and Annie will get through this phase of their marriage but as it stands nothing much has changed since the situation blew up a year ago.’
The insider also insisted claims Annie would stay with Walker for purely financial reasons are not true, amid the links with a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
This comes after the couple made a very public statement as they rang in the New Year together.
The pair were seen wearing matching pyjamas in the Instagram update with their sons Roman, 12, Riaan, eight, Reign, six, and five-month-old Rezon.
