It was, Kyle Walker said, “an opportunity I jumped at”. Two years ago, the scramble for his services was between Manchester City and Bayern Munich, a contest that meant a 33-year-old got a three-year deal. And so, had everything gone to either of his plans, he would now be planning for a final season at either the Etihad Stadium or the Allianz Arena.
Instead, the opportunity he grasped was to go to Burnley. One interpretation is to say that it is a sign of how far and how fast the mighty have fallen: a year ago, Walker played in the final of Euro 2024 and was (somehow) named in the team of the tournament. This season, he may have thought, would have ended with him captaining City to the Premier League or Champions League titles; perhaps even the Club World Cup.
