Manchester City right back Kyle Walker has hit back at his former manager Mauricio Pochettino for claiming he wanted out of Tottenham.
In his book ‘Brave New World‘ Pochettino said that Walker told him he wanted to leave the club, but the England international has disputed that claim.
“He told me I wasn’t in his plans,” he told the Mail. “I was hurt a lot by that. He said his door was always open and I thought it was a private meeting we had. So I kept quiet but then he went and wrote about it… or his version of it.
“He told one side of the story, but it’s a side of a story I don’t agree with. He said he had a witness in there, but he didn’t tell the correct story, no way. Up until now I have never said my part. The manager gave me my chance to showcase my talent. But people don’t know the ins and outs of everything and it is about time I told people what happened from my side,” he finished.
OPINION
Who knew Walker’s Spurs exit was so acrimonious? The 28-year-old was an excellent player for Tottenham, and has been for City, but it seems his relationship with Pochettino soured towards the end. Nobody knows who’s version of events is the truth, but it seems like everything’s worked out in the end. Tottenham have a good right back tandem in Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier, while Walker is now a Premier League champion and is earning a reported £110,000-per-week at the Etihad Stadium [Source: Spotrac]. Walker seems adamant that Pochettino wasn’t telling the truth, but it’s probably just a case of miscommunication. Everybody wants to play regular football and Walker was splitting time with Tripper towards the end of his stay at White Hart Lane. No one can say whether Walker did actually tell Pochettino he wanted to leave or not, but it’s a shame that their relationship fractured in this way.