Man City star offered shock exit route after Club World Cup squad omission

Vishal Bhawani

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Man City star offered shock exit route after Club World Cup squad omission image

Kyle Walker’s time at Manchester City could be entering its final chapter — just not in the way many expected.

After being left out of Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup, the veteran defender has now received a surprising lifeline from Turkey.

Fenerbahce have reportedly made an official move for the 35-year-old right-back (via Daily Mail). The Turkish giants, who finished second in the Super Lig last season, are rebuilding their defense under boss Jose Mourinho.

And in classic Mourinho fashion, he’s not afraid to bring in experience over youth — especially if that experience comes with six Premier League titles and a Champions League medal.

Walker’s future has been up in the air since his loan move to AC Milan in January. While he hoped the switch would help off the pitch as much as on it, the plan didn’t quite work.

Milan struggled, his form dipped, and the Italian media were not kind. One newspaper even wrote that “failure has the face of [Kyle] Walker.” Ouch.

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A fresh start for Kyle Walker under Jose Mourinho?

The full-back made just 15 league appearances for City last season before the winter exit. His omission from City’s Club World Cup squad now speaks volumes. With only a year left on his contract, the writing might be on the Etihad wall.

Walker, who recently earned his 96th England cap, hasn’t hidden his feelings. “I wanted to cry,” he said of his initial City exit.

On his podcast, he even confessed: “I’d probably give up one Premier League… to have won [a trophy] with Tottenham.” Let’s just say that didn’t go down well with City fans.

But maybe a move to Istanbul is what he needs — a new city, a new league, and a manager who loves experienced soldiers. Mourinho and Walker in Turkey? That could be a spicy combo.

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Vishal Bhawani

Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.

Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.