Pep Guardiola remains silent on secret injury problem hampering defender’s Manchester City season

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has remained tight-lipped on an injury problem that has been ongoing in the background for captain Kyle Walker.

The Etihad Stadium captain has been enduring some alarming performances for the club throughout the ongoing season, leaving many to wonder whether it is time for him to step away from the very top-level of the sport.

Walker has had opportunities to do so in the past, widely understood to have been considering a surprise offer to join Bayern Munich following the Treble-winning season of 2022/23, only to be persuaded heavily by the club through a contractual offer to remain at the Etihad.

In light of that rejection of German football, Walker has continued to speak openly about his future within the game, reminding those in interviews and podcast discussions of his ultimate goal of ending his career with boyhood club, Sheffield United.

And given the physical toll that top-level professional sport is having on the 34-year-old, such a move may now be wise for both the player and Manchester City, with a new report revealing details of a fitness secret being hidden by the club.

According to the information of MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, the Manchester City captain has been playing with an injury for over a month, despite manager Pep Guardiola not mentioning the problem during any of his media duties.

It is further claimed that the England international defender has become ‘quiet and reserved’ around Manchester City training ground, and ‘flattered to deceive’ in a recent training game with the club’s academy talents.

The ongoing situation around Walker also comes after Manchester City stood by the 34-year-old during the last summer transfer window, with the report detailing that they had rejected transfer interest from Saudi Arabia to keep him at the club.

It remains to be seen what sort of transfer opportunities could emerge for Walker in the upcoming January and summer transfer windows of 2025, should the player feel as though it is time to bring an end to his time with the reigning Premier League champions.

There is a belief in some quarters that the legendary full-back could receive lucrative opportunities to ply his trade over in the Middle-East’s Saudi Pro League, or in Major League Soccer in the United States.

However, should Bramall Lane emerge as a realistic possibility, there is every chance that Walker would do everything within his power to make a move back to South Yorkshire for the closing stages of a glittering career.