According to a newly revised book, Pep Guardiola took Kyle Walker out for a lavish Japanese meal to persuade him to stay at Manchester City.

Guardiola went to great lengths to keep Walker at the club when he was on the verge of a move to German giants Bayern Munich, despite his growing inclination to churn the Englishman in and out of the lineup. The narrative of Pep’s campaign to keep Walker in Manchester was detailed in an updated version of the book ‘Pep’s City: The Making of a Superteam’ by Pol Ballus and Lu Martin.

“When Pep announced the line-up in Istanbul, Kyle Walker was dismayed to discover that he was not a part of the starting XI,” the authors wrote in the new edition of the book. Walker, on the other hand, had a job to do. Pep wanted him to do the pre-game team talk in the locker room, reflecting his developing role as a leader and Pep’s trust in him.

Walker was a key player all the way to Istanbul, with standout performances against Vinicius Junior in both legs of the semi-final against Real Madrid. Walker’s bond with his boss was the deciding reason in his choice to stay when Bayern Munich approached him in the summer of 2023. Pep emphasized his importance in the dressing room and on the field during a private dinner at Manchester’s Japanese restaurant Musu. Walker committed to a two-year contract extension in September.”

Walker remains a vital member of Guardiola’s team, even if, at the age of 33, it is increasingly important that the Catalan manager monitors his players’ game time. Regardless, the England full-back appears to be having a good time at City this season, where he is helping to a club that is poised to defend its Premier League championship for the fourth time in a row.

City will be desperate to collect three points against Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham team this Sunday after failing to beat title rivals Liverpool last weekend. That won’t be easy, given the Spurs have a strong recent record against Pep’s club.