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WHAT HAPPENED?
Kyle Walker will be out of action for several weeks after undergoing surgery to address a fractured right elbow, AC Milan has confirmed. Walker sustained the injury during training, which was found to be more serious than initially thought. In an official statement, Milan said, “To ensure better healing and optimize recovery time, the player underwent surgery in Milan to repair the olecranon through osteosynthesis. The operation went perfectly to plan. Kyle will begin rehabilitation immediately.” Walker has made eight Serie A appearances since joining Milan on loan from Manchester City in January, along with four in the Champions League and two in the Coppa Italia. The 34-year-old is now expected to miss Milan’s remaining seven league matches and the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Inter.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Walker’s loan spell at Milan has had its ups and downs. While he has become a key defensive figure for Milan under manager Sergio Conceicao, the Rossoneri had excluded him from their squad for the season’s Champions League and Coppa Italia knockout stages. His future remains uncertain. Reports suggest Milan plans to activate a €5 million clause to make his move permanent, though no formal agreement has been confirmed yet. Meanwhile, Walker’s contract with Manchester City runs through 2026, but he is widely expected to leave City permanently this summer. Atletico de Madrid and other Spanish teams have expressed interest in signing him, with Getafe emerging as a potential destination if Atletico’s move does not materialize.
WHAT NATHAN WALKER SAID
Nathan Walker, Kyle Walker’s father, has expressed encouragement for his son’s playing style since joining Milan. Speaking to Amazon, he said, “The way he has been playing—sometimes you’ve got to give him the leash and let him go. He has that bit of magic and sometimes you’ve almost got to let the dog out of the kennel. He enjoys playing like that, and sometimes it will come off, sometimes it won’t… But listen, he has done remarkably well since coming back. He is a Milan player at the moment and showing his qualities.”
WHAT NEXT FOR WALKER?
Walker is targeting a mid-September return for Milan following his rehabilitation. However, the injury raises questions about his standing in the England national team. Walker will hope to maintain his place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad as England prepares for the WC Qualifiers against Andorra in the 7th of June and the friendly match against Senegal 3 days later.
