In a revealing interview with GQ Italia, Kyle Walker, one of AC Milan’s five winter transfer window signings, shared insights into his career, his move to Italy, and his renewed passion for the game. The English defender spoke candidly about his journey from Sheffield to Milan and the motivations behind his recent transfer.
Reflecting on his career, Walker expressed gratitude for his genetic gifts: “I have to thank my parents; genetics have somehow helped me develop a certain physical prowess. At my age, I continue to play at high levels, which is not at all a given.” He reminisced about his childhood dreams, saying, “I remember as a child, I would look out the window of my house and see Sheffield United’s stadium in the distance. It was my dream to play there, and I did everything possible to make it happen.”
Walker’s journey from street football to professional leagues was swift and direct. “At seven, I went from playing on the street to the Academy of the team I supported, without intermediate steps,” he recalled. This early start laid the foundation for a career that would see him achieve numerous goals, always with the same approach: “Looking at the next step, one game at a time.”
The defender spoke warmly of his time at Manchester City, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion. “Being united is fundamental if you want to achieve results in today’s football,” Walker stated. “Players spend more time with their teammates than with their family, so there needs to be an environment where you breathe a sense of communion, of collectivity.”
Walker’s move to Milan represents a new chapter in his career. “For me, Milan is a new challenge,” he explained. “I needed a spark, to reignite the love I have for football. Mind you, I’m not saying I had lost love for the game. But inside me, I felt the need to build a new life, to have new stimuli, new opponents to play against.”
The English international also commented on the differences in football culture between England and Italy. “In Italy, as it should be, the game is experienced differently compared to England, but also Spain, France, Germany. Here there is great attention to defenders and the defensive phase,” Walker observed. He added, “A simple 1-0 victory can be fine; for them, you can start building from there. And in the end, they’re right, the three points in the standings are what a player and a team need most of all.”
Walker expressed excitement about experiencing Milan beyond football, mentioning the upcoming fashion week. He also shared a touching anecdote about his jersey number: “Beckham sent me a message when I arrived at Milan. I replied asking if he minded me taking the shirt number (32) he wore at Milan. He replied: ‘Of course, it’s an honor for me, wear it with pride.’ It was important to me; we’re talking about a man who changed football, who made it what it is today.”
Lastly, Walker spoke about the significance of Milan’s fourth kit, which celebrates black excellence. “Wearing such a shirt is something important. It means we’re sending a clear signal that we want more unity and more inclusion,” he stated. Walker emphasized the importance of continuous efforts against racism: “In the era we live in, where episodes of racism occur every day on social networks and beyond, it’s essential that important clubs like Milan engage in many initiatives of this type.”
