Kyle Walker lifts lid on Pep Guardiola dinner that stopped Bayern Munich transfer in 2023 | OneFootball

Former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has revealed how a meal with Pep Guardiola saw him rebuff interest from Bayern Munich and sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Walker had agreed a two-year contract with Bayern Munich in 2023 and looked set to join forces with now England manager Thomas Tuchel in the twilight of his career, having helped Manchester City win their premier UEFA Champions League title en route to a historic treble.

Manchester City also saw treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan join Barcelona on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract amid a major exodus at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the 2022-23 campaign – that also witnessed Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer leave.

However, Walker rebutted interest from Bayern Munich and put pen to paper and signed a fresh deal at Manchester City as he was voted club captain upon Gundogan’s departure, going on to spearhead the Blues to a historic fourth successive Premier League title in 2024.

How did Pep Guardiola convince Munich-bound Kyle Walker to stay on at Manchester City?

The 35-year-old left Manchester City to join Burnley last summer after a loan spell at AC Milan and as England prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Walker has announced his retirement from international football in an exclusive interview with The Overlap.

In conversation with former Manchester United captain and current broadcaster Gary Neville, Walker has shed light on how he nearly joined Bayern Munich from Manchester City and how Guardiola stepped in to hijack Tuchel’s approach for the Sheffield-born defender.

“Two years ago,” Walker said, when asked by Neville when Tuchel tried to sign him at Bayern Munich. Neville added: “What happened?” as he attempted to piece together how an attractive transfer to the Allianz Arena broke down for Walker.

“Pep (Guardiola) took me for dinner and I decided to stay at Man City! He took me out for dinner in Manchester,” Walker added. “We went there (Tast) and we had a nice meal – and I decided to extend my stay at Man City.”

How did a final contract renewal at Manchester City work out for Kyle Walker?

Walker went on to captain City to a record fourth Premier League title on the trot as Guardiola’s side added another record to the books.

The Englishman lost his place in the starting XI in the following season and moved to Italy on loan midway through Guardiola’s most challenging year in England – a decision he has since looked back at with some form of regret.

On his decision to extend his Manchester City contract in 2023, Walker added: “I’m so happy I did because we won another league, four-in-a-row and I was the captain for that. That’s something I can always hold dearly to me.

“I was very, very happy to be captain of that great club and to win four (Premier League titles) in a row was obviously special.”

Walker was sold to Burnley upon his return to City from loan in the Serie A last summer and although the right-back did not receive a farewell at the Etihad Stadium, he can hold his head high as one of the greatest full-backs in English football.