Kyle Walker admits that he was almost in tears after his “sad” exit in Manchester City.
But the English star insists that he “couldn't say no” to AC Milan in the midst of his family drama at home.
Walker completed a stunning loan movement to the Italian side in January after seven and half a year in the city.
The 34-year-old won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League in 319 games under Pep Guardiola.
And Walker has since gone 11 times with the star for the new side Milan, including yesterday's 1-1 derby trek with Inter in the Semis Coppa Italia.
The right back completed his San Siro switch in the midst of Family Drama with alienated wife Annie Kilner and former mistress Lauryn Goodman.
He shares four children with Annie, while he also conceived two with Lauryn.
And Walker, who was recently seen that orders barking with teammate Joao Felix, has now revealed that he was coming close to crying while he said goodbye to city staff and players.
He told BBC Sounds' The Kyle Walker Podcast: “I told the team manager … The player Liaison Officer, I said I wanted to say goodbye to the boys in the canteen before I left when I knew the deal was complete.
“And he actually texted the entire building! So there were 150 people there and I had to say goodbye, which was a bit nerve -racking.
“It was sad because so many people would have this persona about me or whatever, I spoke to everyone in that building from the cleaners to the chefs, to the kit men, to the physios.
“There was the lady there, Emma, who would be behind the counter and serve your food, whether you would get drinks and whatever.
“And even when I looked at her, I wanted to cry because it was as if I said every day, 'morning' to you and you given a hug, and suddenly now I will not see you anymore, and you don't think about it when the process happens, but when you say goodbye, it is difficult.”
Walker also raised the lid about his reasons to move to Milan.
He added: “In football, I think when certain things come, or certain opportunities come, you have to take it.
“And for me to experience a different competition, for me to experience a different culture, for me to play for a club like AC Milan … I don't think you can reject that.
“And if you know they want you, or you want to go there, and you want a new challenge, I think there are certain clubs in the world that can say a little no.
“I think he (PEP) is a top player, playing for a top club and managing these top players, [he knows] People will have different desires or ambitions to do certain things with their career, and I just think it just came for me at the right time. It came at the right time. It was the right club.
“And I just felt, you know what, I have to go and try something else, because I don't want to live after football and said that I wanted me to have just explored something else and came to a club like that. I think it was the right fit for me.”
Comments