On the Kyle Walker Podcast, the AC Milan full-back spoke about meeting Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the first time in Milan. Here's what he had to say:
"Zlatan is a presence. I'll tell you that - he's a presence. I wouldn't say I was starstruck because I played against him. So, I've seen him before. So it wasn't like, 'Oh my gosh, I've seen this incredible player that's, you know, represented all these fantastic clubs!' But, he has an aura and especially around Milan and around the building."
Walker added:
"When I signed for them and everything like that, you can just see the presence that he has and the respect that he's developed in the city: from the staff, the fans, and the players as well when he comes around the training ground. Everyone is...he's still like a player, but he's got a different role now. But, the aura that he has is incredible. He's brilliant."
On Ibrahimovic's status:
"It's, you know, what he's done for this club, what he's done for the city, you know, what he's done personally himself for football. You know, he deserves everything that he's got and the aura that he's got, because I think only certain people...you have certain players. I think the only one probably like that, that I could probably relate to is [Wayne] Rooney. But, we look at Wazza in a different light because we know him personally. So, we see Wayne with the kids, Wazza just being Wayne. We don't see him as 'Rooney'.”
On his future and a potential return to Manchester City, Walker said:
"After I said my goodbyes, Pep got up and spoke and said a really nice message to me, just saying thank you for everything. But, listen, it's not over. I'm just on loan here. I've got to take that into consideration that I can go back. Obviously, both parties need to come to an agreement come the end of the season and listen, the chapter's not fully closed, but we'll see what happens."
On the decision to leave Manchester City and join Milan:
"I said to the team manager...the player liaison officer, I said that I wanted to say goodbye to the lads in the canteen before I left when I knew the deal was complete. And he actually texted the whole building! So, there were 150 people there and I had to say goodbye, which was a little bit nerve-wracking, and it was sad because as much as people might have this persona about me or whatever, I did speak to completely everyone in that building from the cleaners, to the cooks, to the kit men, to the physios. There was the lady there, Emma, that would be behind the counter and serve you food, or get your drinks and whatever, and even when I looked over at her, I wanted to cry because it was like every day I've said, "Morning" to you and given you a cuddle, and all of a sudden now I'm not going to see you anymore, and you don't think about that when the process is happening, but then when you come to say goodbye, it's hard.'"
On Milan's appeal, Walker said:
"In football, I think when certain things come, or certain opportunities come, you have to take it. And for me to experience a different league, for me to experience a different culture, for me to play for a club like AC Milan... I don't think you can turn that down, and when you know they want you, or you want to go there, and you want to have a new challenge, I think there are certain clubs in the world that you kind of can't say no to. I think with him (Pep) being a top player, playing for a top club and managing these top players, [he knows] people are going to have different desires or ambitions to go and do certain things with their career, and I just think for me, it just came at the right time. It came at the right time. It was the right club. I just felt, you know what, I need to go and try something different because I don't want to live after football saying I wish I'd have just explored something different and come to a club like this. I think it was the right fit for me."
