Why Kyle Walker REJECTED a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia – and it has nothing to do with wife Annie
KYLE Walker rejected a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia because he still hopes to reach 100 caps for England.
The Manchester City ace, 34, who has been capped 93 times for the Three Lions, feared a move to the lucrative Saudi league would end his chances.
It comes as The Sun reported Walker is lining up a move to Italy — with long-suffering wife Annie Kilner due to join him in a bid to save their marriage.
The couple hope to leave behind the captain’s tangled love life and focus on the future.
Kyle has been linked to two top clubs in the trendy Italian city.
A source said a loan agreement with Inter Milan had been reached in principle, despite huge rivals AC Milan also expressing an interest.
Insiders said he shocked City bosses last week by saying he wanted a move, and 31-year-old Annie is likely to move with him, despite filing for divorce in August.
One said: “Neither of them know what the future holds. But they’re hopeful a switch to Italy will give them the breathing space they desperately need to see if things can be worked out.
“It’s been impossible to do that in England due to the pressure they’ve been under for the last 12 months.
“They’re hoping time alone will help them decide if there’s anything left they can salvage.
“Annie is keen to press ahead with the divorce in order to sort the finances out and Kyle won’t oppose that. But they haven’t yet fully given up on one another.”
Their four kids — Roman, 12, Riaan, eight, six-year-old Reign and baby Rezon — will also make the move from their home in Prestbury, Cheshire.
The news comes after The Sun revealed last year that Walker had fathered a second child with ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman.
Annie, pregnant with Rezon at the time, vowed it was the last straw and kicked him out.
Then, in an exclusive interview with The Sun, the football ace publicly apologised and begged for forgiveness.
In the summer, Walker returned from England’s Euros defeat to face 33-year-old Lauryn in court over financial arrangements for year-old daughter Kinara.
Papers revealed he had increased Lauryn’s housing budget from £1.85million to £2.4million after she threatened to move within ten minutes of his family home.
Walker’s bombshell request to quit City was revealed after he was left out of the squad ahead of Saturday’s 8-0 FA Cup demolition of Salford City.