Kyle Walker spoke with Milan TV in an interview to discuss his move to the Rossoneri and present himself to the fans.
How does it feel to be a Milan player?
"It's great, it's something that, you know, as a young kid I've always watched AC (Milan), and actually put on the famous colours. I'm very proud and hopefully it can be a good end of the season."
You've learned a lot throughout your career and you've decided to create and open your own academy. Can you tell us more about this project? Walker responded:
"Well, from where I'm from in Sheffield, obviously, there's little opportunity, and I feel that there is a lot of kids that are on the streets or don't have a chance to go and make it as a footballer. I was one of them and it became very lucky that I did become a footballer, so it was about giving back to the city, back to the city of where I'm from, and hopefully if I can help one person achieve their dream, then that was the main goal in it."
Your pre-match routine has become pretty famous, like spraying water from your mouth. Where does this habit come from?
"I did it when I was a kid, so playing for Sheffield United again. I used to watch a lot of wrestling, so Triple H, he was my favourite wrestler. He decided to do that before, every time he went into the ring. I was going into the ring when I was playing football, so it just became an omen and I've carried it on ever since."
Walker, how have you changed throughout the years? You've been saying that when you played for Tottenham you weighed five kilos less compared to now, and right now you've recently started to do weight training in the gym, What kind of impact did it have on the way you play?
"I just felt that the modern-day football now, with the wingers that I come up against, it wasn't just about what I was gifted with genetically. I feel that if I can add something in the gym that makes me stronger, quicker, and more durable, then that's why I decided to do that. Obviously, I've been very blessed by my mum and dad giving me these genetics, but you can always add, and I feel that I'm still hungry to win things, still hungry to play football, and I want to play football for as long as possible."
Have you already spoken with someone who had the chance to wear the AC Milan jersey, or is actually wearing it? If yes, what have they told you about the club?
"I reached out to Tammy, asked him what the city was like, what it's actually like to play for AC Milan. You have the outside perception of looking in, of it being a massive club, and the players that have played for it: Kaká, Ronaldinho, David Beckham, these types of players, Maldini, are players that I look up to, and just to be a part of that, he said that you have to come, you have to experience this city, and that's kind of what made my decision."
If you look back when it all started, and look at yourself in the mirror now, do you feel you've gone beyond your dreams?
"One million percent, I think I've probably gone beyond them. To play for my boyhood club, Sheffield United, was my dream. To do that at the age of 18, I did that. To then obviously have some fantastic years at Tottenham, but not really achieving or winning the things that we should have won. To then go to Manchester City and win 17 trophies in the last seven years has been out of this world, and especially the big one, which is the Champions League, which we finally managed to do within a treble season, was fantastic."
Walker continued:
"So over the last seven years, it's been more than enough, but my full career, just being able to play football, being able to do the job that I love, it's been a dream come true."
You were born on May 28 in 1990 in Sheffield, and May 28th is a significant day for AC Milan, as the club claimed on that day in 2003 its sixth UEFA Champions League title in Manchester. Can we say it was kind of destiny you would have joined our club?
"I think now looking back, it might have been. Obviously it's an important day for myself, but an important day for this great club. So, you know, hopefully there's more Champions League finals to come and we can create more history."
What do you expect from the AC Milan fans?
"No, I've seen, you know, obviously the YouTube videos, the TikTok videos. The fans are incredible. You know, they show great passion. You know, they live for football here. And that was a big, massive choice of me coming here. You know, I still want to feel the passion of football. It's something that we all love, whether it's the players or the fans. So for them to obviously sing as they do, you know, chant as they do, and support us through home and away, it means the world and, you know, we need to continue, because it's a big push till the end of the season now to finish strongly."
You chose the number 32, a number worn by David Beckham at Milan before, Walker replied:
"First and foremost, obviously (chose) because of David Beckham. I've seen that that number was available, and being English, and him being just an icon for our country, I hope he doesn't mind. But, you know, I wanted to wear 32. But also, you know, it resembles the number two shirt that I've worn throughout my career. So to have that on the end, you know, it means a lot."
Now, you'll play at the San Siro again, and the last time you played here... You're smiling, I don't know why (interviewer and Walker both laugh)... So you have also played as a goalkeeper (vs Atalanta at San Siro), tell us about that moment.
"It was a different experience, but it was between me and John. So the manager, me and John, have always given the goalkeepers a lot of stick when they don't save the balls. So the manager kind of put us to the test, and he picked me to go in there. Would I want to do it again? Probably not. It was very scary, but, you know, it was an important role that I had to play for the team to get them over the line into the Champions League, and, you know, I managed to save that free kick, and I don't really have a meme or anything now (smiles)."
What's behind this attitude and habit you have, putting pressure on goalkeepers in training?
"You know, as a defender and as a goalkeeper, you need to have a good relationship. I feel you have to have relationships all across the pitch, but, you know, we're the last line of defence, and it's about pushing them. You know, I want to push the teammates, I want to push myself to become better players, you know, and we need to make sure throughout all the team that we rely on each other. So good friendly banter, as we call it in England, is always good, you know, and it makes sure that each and every day at training you're giving 110%, and that then replicates into the matches."
If you only had one chance to say thank you to somebody, which person would you choose in your life?
"I would say my grandad that passed away. If I could, or if he could have seen me, you know, achieve what I've achieved, he was the one that first took me to the Sheffield United matches, he was the one that got me into football, paid for my season ticket, so it would just be thank you for him to, you know, for me to get the opportunity to watch my boyhood club."
We knew that you played as a striker when you were a child, right? How did you progressively develop your transformation, becoming a right full-back, and thanks to who?
"It was a coach at Sheffield United called Sam Safe that I wasn't playing as a centre-forward, I was a very late developer, I was very small but quick, and people were pushing me off the ball, you know, the defenders were a lot bigger, so our right-back got injured, and he said, do I fancy playing there? I was quick, I could defend well because I played a lot of street football, you know, one-on-ones and stuff like that and I played there relly well, two months later, I'm in the first team, so it kind of was a coincidence, obviously someone got injured, I then had to play there, but it seemed to fit me really well, and I enjoyed it, I liked the challenge, I liked the challenge of going 1v1 against people, and putting myself to the test."
Who was your idol when you were a child and do you also have an idol outside of football? Walker replied:
"I watched a lot of the Premier League, Dani Alves, apart from that, was someone that I looked up to, Philippe Lahm, I've said it in interviews before, if you could merge the two players together, I think you've got the complete right-back, but I think now, I try and make sure that I can adapt to my qualities, the things that I've got, the things that I can improve on, and just make sure that I'm the best version of myself, all I can do is give 110% when I go onto the pitch, as you said before, I've achieved a lot in the game, and hopefully one day people do look up to me and say I wanted to be like him."
Walker, we have noticed many tattoos, which are the ones you love the most and consider more important than others?
"I'd probably say the ones on my left leg, because it's a journey of my football, it's a journey of the clubs I've played for, I've got the Tottenham tattoo, Sheffield United, Man City, now there's going to have to be an AC Milan one there, but I think that just shows the journey of my football and what I've achieved in the job that I love."
Walker concluded:
"I'm so excited to play in this fantastic stadium and hopefully we can finish the season good. Obviously, the Champions League is going really well. The league, I think we all know, could be a little bit better, but that's important. With my experience, hopefully I can bring that to some of the younger players and play with passion, I think that's what we need to show and I think that's what the fans deserve... Forza Milan!"
