The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
Kyle Walker was absent from Manchester City’s open training session on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League final.
City head to Istanbul to face Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Saturday, aiming to become the first side since arch-rivals Manchester United in 1998-99 to win a historic Treble.
They are fresh off lifting the FA Cup after beating United 2-1 at the weekend, with Ilkay Gundogan’s two goals enough to settle the tie.
But, ahead of their final assignment of the season, Kyle Walker wasn’t present for their training session at the City Football Academy on Tuesday afternoon – which was open to media – in a worrying development for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Walker has been integral to their impressive form over recent months, with his pace and defensive acumen particularly evident as he successfully shackled Vinicius Jr. in their Champions League semi-final 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Madrid.
Kyle Walker was absent from Manchester City’s open training session on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul this Saturday
Walker has been in sensational form for City over recent months as they completed the Double
It has been a fascinating turnaround for the England right back, given Guardiola claimed back in April that he wasn’t suitable to play City’s new system that sees John Stones move into midfield and beyond.
Speaking ahead of their trip to Southampton on April 8, Guardiola had said: ‘He cannot do it. He will always have pace; Kyle at 60-years-old will be the fastest player in this room.
‘To play inside you have to have educated movements – he doesn’t have every one of the characteristics.
‘He has played as a full-back coming inside in the past with four at the back. He has done really well but this shape of three at the back and two in the middle, he cannot do it.’
His absence from training is as of yet unexplained, but is a huge worry for Pep Guardiola’s side
Following that game against the Saints, Walker went on to start every league game for the rest of the year, bar the clash against Leeds – which came ahead of that aforementioned semi-final clash with Real.
If fit, the 33-year-old – who impressed in the FA Cup final on Saturday as he helped to largely shackle United’s attack – would be expected to start in Istanbul.
Since joining the club back in 2017 from Tottenham, Walker has made 253 appearances and won 13 trophies – including five Premier League titles.
