PEP GUARDIOLA has confirmed Kyle Walker will remain as Manchester City captain.
The England defender spoke to The Sun at the weekend expressing his regret at the way he has treated his wife Annie.
He admitted fathering two children with model and influencer Lauryn Goodman in recent years.
Guardiola said he will not talk about the personal lives of his players but said there is no plan to strip the Three Lions defender of the armband.
Asked if the captaincy remained unchanged, he said: “Absolutely, because it’s a decision for the team and not mine.
“I will not talk about personal issues. I support him and his family but I don’t say one word about the personal lives of my players.”
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The news Walker will stay on as captain comes after he admitted that he almost followed England team-mate Harry Kane in joining Bayern Munich last summer.
He saw the move as a way to escape the constant speculation around his family life.
The defender verbally agreed a reported £15million move to the German champions in July.
He said on the proposed move: “I tried to escape. Did I want to leave City? No, of course I didn’t. We’re the best team in the world at the minute.
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“But it was a chance to get away from England and the media I was going to get. I was aware the clock was ticking. I came very close to moving.
“I was going to a great club, a massive club. But in the end I couldn’t go.
“If I’m in Germany and this happens, Annie leaves and I’m now in Germany on my own. My kids wouldn’t be around the corner where I can see them.
“There’s pain and emotion at the moment but I can go to the house, take the kids to school, and my little lad to football.”
He spoke of his pain at betraying his wife Annie and admits that he would not blame her if she chose to go through with a divorce.
He said: “I think there’s too much pain and too much hurt.
“For now, I just need to be the best dad that I can be.”
Walker will lead his City team as captain in tomorrow night’s Premier League fixture with Burnley, who are managed by his former team-mate and ex-City captain Vincent Kompany.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
