The fall of Kyle Walker: Why Man City's 'embarrassing' captain is right to leave the Etihad Stadium after becoming the face of Pep Guardiola's first-ever crisis

It must be noted that Walker has been hampered by a series of niggling fitness issues. Rico Lewis played ahead of him in the early stages of the season, and for a while, it seemed like a permanent changing of the guard was afoot.

But after recovering from a knee problem he picked up on international duty with England in October, Walker started seven out of 12 games for City through to December 15. The veteran full-back was an unused substitute during both the shocking 4-1 loss to Sporting CP and 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League, while he came on at half-time in City's 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest but was otherwise ever-present, and arguably the worst player in the team.

Walker was ripped to shreds by Timo Werner in City's 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham, and he was at fault for both of Crystal Palace's goals as Guardiola's side were held to a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park. In City's most recent Champions League outing at Juventus, his failure to track back left Weston McKennie in acres of space in the box to volley home and seal a 2-0 victory for the hosts.

And in the Manchester derby, Walker made headlines for his erratic defending, and behaviour, once again. United ran out 2-1 winners at Etihad Stadium, but the final result could have been even worse for City had United taken full advantage of Walker's ineptitude - and if the referee had been strong enough to punish him for one shameless display of theatricality.

Sofascore gave Walker a 6.3 rating in the derby - the joint lowest across both teams, alongside United's Diogo Dalot - which wasn't harsh. The City skipper lost possession 20 times, with only two of his 11 long pass attempts finding their mark, and he lost half of his ground duels.

Walker was also lucky to stay on the pitch after sparking an altercation with Rasmus Hojlund in the first half. Hojlund ran to try and meet a searching kick upfield from United goalkeeper Andre Onana, only to be obstructed by Walker, who cynically barged the striker to the floor.

Understandably enraged, Hojlund then stormed over to Walker to make his feelings known, and they touched heads for a brief moment. The contact was minimal, and replays showed that Hojlund used zero force, but Walker decided to drop to the turf and roll around as if he'd been assaulted.

At half-time in the Sky Sports studio, United legend Roy Keane perfectly captured the public opinion on Walker's actions: "He should be embarrassed. I don’t know the guy and I’m embarrassed by that." Keane also suggested Walker deserved a red for the incident, instead of the yellow that was also shown to Hojlund as referee Anthony Taylor took the easy way out.

Walker went to extreme lengths to get Hojlund sent off, and Keane is right: shouldn't that same punishment fit the crime? Some would just call it a ploy to gain an advantage, but cheating is the real word, and Taylor missed a golden opportunity to make an example of Walker at a time when diving is "screwing up our game", as ex-Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer put it while covering the derby on Dutch television.

Walker doesn't have a history of making a fool of himself in the manner he did in the derby. He's been a model of consistency for club and country down the years, and is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation.

But something is different this season. Walker hasn't really lost any of his speed and physicality, but his concentration levels have dwindled, and he doesn't read the game as well as he used to.

This version of Walker doesn't track his marker or make crucial interceptions when City are under the cosh. The champions have only won two of the games Walker has started this season, which is no coincidence.

He hasn't been doing his job at right-back, which is why he's been left out of Guardiola's starting lineup for five games in a row, and according to the Daily Mail, he's also falling short as a captain. Walker is now said to be "quiet and reserved" figure in training instead of the loud, influential one City need him to be.

That same report also claims that Walker was carrying an injury and playing through pain in December, but that doesn't explain his body language or general attitude. Walker is coming across like a man distracted, and that is mostly likely due to issues away from the pitch.

Walker was reportedly left 'stunned' in mid-October as Annie Kilner, his wife and mother of their four children, filed for divorce. The couple had been trying to work through their marriage troubles after Walker's well-publicised affair with Lauryn Goodman, but Kilner eventually instructed her lawyers to open legal proceedings - as per The Sun.

It could be a long, painful process, with Kilner said to be demanding half of Walker's £27 million ($34m) fortune. Walker fathered a child with Goodman in 2020, while he and Kilner were on a break, and the City star was exposed for fathering a second child with Goodman in 2022, after he and Kilner had got back together.

Walker allegedly kept the child secret from his wife for a year, which reportedly led to her kicking him out of their £3.5m mansion in Cheshire. "What I've done is horrible and I take full responsibility. I made idiot choices and idiot decisions," Walker told The Sun in January. "I can't begin to think or imagine what Annie is going through. My actions have caused a lot of pain to a lot of people. I'm sorry because, as a family, this isn't meant to happen."

He added: "I am human and I’ve made mistakes on and off the field. The ones off the field are definitely more damaging and have been more hurtful to me. Football has been my life since I was six, but my family comes before anything on this planet."

Eleven months on, Walker is still dealing with the fallout from his infidelity. It's obvious he's lost some focus on footballing matters as a result, though it has been reported that Kilner has put the divorce process on hold amid mounting speculation over his future at Etihad Stadium.

Walker also had to deal with racist abuse online after his performance against Juventus. He appealed for action on social media while sharing a screenshot of one of the vile messages he received, writing: "Instagram and the authorities need to stop this happening for the sake of all who are suffering this abuse. It is never acceptable."

No player should be subjected to racism in any form, and Walker showed great courage to speak up. He also made a vow to supporters that City "will continue to work as a team to do better, to improve, and turn the corner together" in the face of widespread scrutiny.

There is still time for City to salvage their season, even if the title is now all but out of reach. They will still believe a Champions League and FA Cup double is a realistic goal, especially if Guardiola can buy a replacement for long-term absentee Rodri before the winter transfer window slams shut.

But the Catalan coach was right to take Walker out of the firing line. Walker had to make do with substitute appearances in the Premier League games against Aston Villa, Leicester City and West Ham, while he was left out of the squad completely as City romped to an 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford City on Saturday after informing Guardiola of his desire to leave.

Regardless he was not in the right headspace to be a regular in the City line up, and with Lewis available again after suspension and Manuel Akanji back to full fitness after injury, Guardiola had no reason to bring Walker back in.

In hindsight, City were probably too quick to hand Walker a two-year contract extension in September last year. After clinching his sixth Premier League winner's medal, he could have brought the curtain down on his City career as a hero in the summer.

Instead, he is now likely to leave on the back of an ugly final chapter that will slightly diminish his legacy at the Etihad. Guardiola shocked reporters at his latest press conference by revealing that Walker has "asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end his career", with AC Milan thought to be his most likely next destination.

According to The Telegraph, the Italian giants are aiming to finalise a deal for Walker this week, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing a key role in negotiations. A starting berth awaits for Walker at San Siro, but Milan are not his only option. The Daily Star reports that Saudi outfit Al-Ahli are willing to double Walker's £200,000-per-week salary, while a romantic return to Sheffield United has also been mooted.

Walker has already made his feelings clear on a potential homecoming at Bramall Lane, saying on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel in March last year: "I don’t want to drop down too low because, no disrespect, but I feel the lower it gets, I think it gets harder. Certain things that you have the luxury of at City, whether facilities, nutrition, this, that or the other. But I’d like to finish at Sheffield United. That’s something that I would actually like to do."

The Blades might well be back in the Premier League by then, as they sit just one point off the Championship summit after 26 games. Walker won't have to "drop down too low", whether he picks Sheffield United, an AC Milan side sitting eighth in Serie A, or joins all-star names like Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, but his time at the very top of the game is undoubtedly drawing to a close.

Walker's body hasn't completely failed him yet, but he seems to be mentally broken, and no amount of luxuries City offer him can fix that.