Kyle Walker told Pep Guardiola he wanted to experience a new league in another country – and Real Madrid could have been an option after he was offered to the Spanish giants on loan, only for the Spanish side to turn it down
Real Madrid reportedly turned down a move to sign Kyle Walker in the January transfer window, with the La Liga side still intent on signing Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer instead.
Walker joined AC Milan on loan this week after telling Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola he wanted a new challenge, having started just nine times from City’s 21 Premier League games.
The 34-year-old told Guardiola he wanted to experience a new league in another country – and Madrid could have been an option after he was offered to the Spanish giants on loan.
However, according to Marca, Madrid opted against taking Walker – despite losing first-choice option Dani Carvajal for the season.
Young defender Raul Asencio has been playing as a makeshift right-back in Carvajal’s absence this season, with Madrid still hoping to lure Alexander-Arnold after turning down the chance to sign Walker.
Liverpool will be disappointed Madrid didn’t opt for Walker after already rejecting a £20million bid from Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
The report says Madrid’s main reason for turning down the chance to sign Walker was to ensure they remained on track to bring in Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
The club know they will be able to sign the 26-year-old on a free transfer if they wait until the summer, with Liverpool also in danger of losing Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk as things stand and running out of time to agree new contracts with the trio.
Alexander-Arnold has come under fire this year after some sub-par displays, with some accusing him of taking his eye off the ball amid transfer speculation, but his manager Arne Slot has insisted he is still committed.
The Dutchman said earlier this year: “I think everybody saw how great a first half of the season he had, how much he is here, how much he wants to win here.
“I see him on the training ground, working every day. He is fully committed to us and he will play on Sunday.”
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