Kyle Walker was the first of five signings to arrive for AC Milan in the winter transfer window, and he has already begun to showcase his qualities.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, a Martian who landed on Earth without knowing anything about football, would think that Walker has been playing for Milan for years and would have a hard time believing he has only played three games for the club.
After Davide Calabria left for Bologna and Emerson Royal suffered a long-term injury, Walker took ownership of the vacancy on the right side of the defence straight away and showed his leadership qualities immediately.
As caught by the cameras, there was a moment in the Empoli match last night in which Walker gave directions to Yunus Musah for 15 seconds. He moved sideways in small steps, then extended his arm and showed him where he has to go. Yunus nods and turns, Kyle calls him again and gives him one last tip.
This is Walker. Before taking to the field in Empoli he had told Dazn: “My leadership is important. I was the captain of Manchester City. I hope that the younger ones see me as a leader, I try to be an example for everyone.”
He said it just as he had said it when he was introduced: a statement without arrogance, simply the will to put himself at the service of the team and to impart the knowledge from his 34 years of life but also his 18 trophies with Manchester City and his time with Pep Guardiola.
The €5m option to buy appears to be a formality right now, because with this ‘unforeseen’ arrival the club have filled a position that was precarious for some time. Last night showed the value that he brings even more: his block of Grassi’s shot probably saved a goal, and he slid over to centre-back after Fikayo Tomori’s red card.
Walker is, together with Maignan and Fofana (and, in part, Tomori), the player who speaks the most on the pitch and in the dressing room, when it comes to leading the group and giving directions. Milan have needed somebody like him.
So happy Kyle Walker is at Milan. The whole right side is completely different now, and should help to unlock the left side.
For me, and what I’ve seen so far, he’s more of an RCB than RB. His marking looks great, positioning in the box is great, and he’s very great in the air as well. But I don’t see him burning the line, and providing crosses from the byline. I don’t see him overlapping with Pulisic in a fast counter attack. And we need someone like that.
I feel like he’s choosing to be more defensive to bring stability because the right side has always been weak. I see him gradually taking risk and being more offensive as the season progresses.
He’s the new Kjaer on our dressing room. A fantastic signing.
Great signing! ❤🖤
Giving direction based off his years experience to other players is well worth the signing. Other players can grow because of his impact. And plus he’s in great condition. Definitely doesn’t seem like he’s 34.
Could be the best signing of the winter really.
Agree!
Amazing people here didn’t want him. Shows how little they know.
Perhaps due to his off field issues? I’m not sure either. But he’s certainly settled well.
At 34 in the PL he seemed to have lost a yard of pace but so far has looked untroubled in (the admittedly slower) Serie A
I think a lot of judgment will have to wait until the big games, with all due respect to Empoli that’s not really a barometer to gauge our new signings. Feyenoord in midweek will be interesting!
Forza Milan
“At 34 in the PL he seemed to have lost a yard of pace but so far has looked untroubled in (the admittedly slower) Serie A”
UCL stats say he has ran faster than Theo. Even if he might be old, he’s definitely not slow.
*ran faster than Theo THIS SEASON.
Yes, for me, it was his off field issues.
I’d say he has, at minimum, 2 years left operating at an elite level. Possibly more. We should make this move permanent and spend what we have to spend. Give us 2 years of security at right back while training the next.
I was suspicious of his signing in the long term but he’s been excellent so far. I still think expecting him to play 90 minutes every 3 days for the next month is asking for trouble though, we’re going to have to manage him a bit and trust a backup for spells.
He might be our most important signing in this winter transfer window in short term