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Manchester City saw their captain leave in the middle of last season when Kyle Walker opted to go on loan to AC Milan
Kyle Walker does not regret leaving Manchester City in the middle of last season but has reflected that he 'probably' should have stayed.
Walker was serving his second season as club captain having skippered the team to an historic fourth consecutive Premier League title when he made the shock call to leave in January. A loan move to AC Milan was arranged, and while that was not made permanent it signalled the end of Walker's eight years at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola was stung by the decision but called on supporters to remember everything the right-back had given the club when he returned last month with new side Burnley. He was given a warm reception by Blues and welcomed back as his team put up a good fight before being on the end of a harsh 5-1 scoreline.
Walker does not have regrets about leaving City in the way he did, but has admitted that it was a selfish thing to do and that in hindsight he should not have gone.
"Should I have left and gone on loan to AC Milan? I was the club captain, and you're the first one in line when things are not going really well," he told Sky Sports.
"At that time in the season, should I have left? Looking back at it now, probably no.
"I should have stood by or next to my team-mates, next to my friends and people who I class as my family. But for the first time probably in my career I was selfish and I thought about myself and I wanted to play football.
"I don't see it as a bad reason but I wasn't happy sitting on the bench and getting a game here, there and whenever. I felt that I still had a point to prove that I could still play at a high level. When a club like AC Milan comes I didn't think I could turn them down.
"When I came back in the summer I had time to reflect on it. But then I don't regret it as I always wanted to play abroad and experience that. I'm glad I did the sixth months, but I probably could have done a bit better."
Walker moved to Premier League newcomers Burnley in summer while Guardiola changed the habit of his career to personally choose the City captain for this season. Bernardo Silva has replaced Walker, with Rodri, Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland also in the leadership group.
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