I Don’t Regret My England Retirement – Walker

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has suggested that Kyle Walker should have been considered to play at the 2026 World Cup. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

Admitting that he is flattered by Rooney’s remarks, Walker stated that he firmly stands by his decision to step aside and let the younger generation play.

Kyle added that he retired from national team football because he knows that his time is up.

Rooney said, “We’ve seen it before. It’s happened before where players come out of retirement. I think the minute Livramento got injured, I think he [Tuchel] should have been right on the phone to Kyle Walker. Kyle is still more than good enough and more than capable of playing in this England team. I would have been on the phone to him saying, ‘Listen we need you here. Can you come out and help us?’ That could really cost us [the right-back area]. I’m worried on that.”

Walker replied, “I would always have tried to be there for my country. But my time is up, I retired for a reason. I thought that it was time for the pathway for the next generation to come through and step aside for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James. And it’s just sod’s law that a lot of right-backs have now been injured. I don’t regret anything in life.

I made the decision and I stand by it. Could I foresee Reece James and Tino both getting injured? Maybe with their problems I could have given myself a little bit of a chance but I also think that you’ve got a very good right-back in Trent who’s also been overlooked.”