Why Annie Kilner has already left Kyle Walker alone in Italy – with wife of AC Milan loan star heading back to Manchester on private jet

That is not an entirely new situation for the 34-year-old defender, as he completed a loan move from Manchester City to San Siro without his wife and children by his side. They did, however, travel over for his Rossoneri bow in a derby date with Inter – despite initial claims that Kilner was not in attendance.

Walker is, however, by himself again after seeing Kilner head back to Britain. She flew out of Milan by private jet, with the Daily Mail reporting that school commitments require Walker and Kilner’s four sons to be back on home turf.

It is being claimed, though, that “the boys are excited about a potential new adventure” and Kilner “wants to support Kyle's career” after seeing their marriage rocked by Walker’s fathering of two children with former Love Island contestant Lauryn Goodman.

A source has told the Mail, with the couple taking positive steps towards rebuilding their relationship after generating intense divorce talk at one stage: “They want to make it work, for the boys in particular and hope that Milan will bring them a new path.”

Kilner is expected to remain in England until family living arrangements in Italy have been finalised. For now, that means Walker “will be making trips home when his football schedule allows”. He will be back in action alongside USMNT star Christian Pulisic when Milan face Roma in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Wednesday.