GdS: ‘Leadership and strength’ – why Milan have already decided on €5m Walker option | OneFootball

The AC Milan directors and coaching staff are already very happy with the impact that Kyle Walker has had, and are planning to sign him permanently.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report that is has taken ‘less than two weeks to convince everyone’ in Walker’s case, with the management, coaches and fans all praising the impact that he has made.

Barring any sensational surprises, his six-month loan is destined to transform into a permanent acquisition by June 30th. A total of around €5m will go to Manchester City and the Englishman will be a mainstay for the Rossoneri for at least another two seasons, despite turning 35 in May.

Walker has convinced not only because of his performance levels, but above all for the impact he has had in the dressing room in such a short time. At City he was a top player but also the captain, and he brought the mixture of leadership and experience with him to Italy.

On the pitch he is the first to dispense advice and call his team-mates to order, such as in Empoli when he almost shadowed Yunus Musah after Sergio Conceiçao moved the American first to midfield and then to right-back.

This was what Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada hoped for when they decided to sign him in the winter. “An unforeseen opportunity, but one to be seized upon because it is always better to have Kyle than not to have him,” Ibrahimovic said, and it should be extended.