Kyle Walker’s antics during Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the derby left the England defender red-faced—and former United star Rio Ferdinand is certain Walker will need to apologize for his actions.
During a heated first-half encounter, Walker was involved in a comical incident with United’s Rasmus Hojlund, which ended with the City man dramatically hitting the floor after minimal contact, sparking a full-on melee.
Despite replays showing no foul from Hojlund, Walker’s antics quickly became a source of ridicule on social media, with the defender’s exaggerated fall drawing widespread mockery, including from the player himself, Hojlund.
RECALL:
The Manchester derby saw United secure a remarkable 2-1 victory over City, their first win at the Etihad since March 2021. However, while Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and Amad’s dramatic last-minute goal grabbed the headlines, Walker’s “performance” was equally unforgettable.
After the incident, a flurry of comments from pundits, including Ferdinand, Roy Keane, and Gary Neville, quickly criticized Walker’s conduct, with many suggesting he would soon regret his actions.
QUOTES:
Rio Ferdinand (on his podcast Rio Presents):
“Kyle Walker, we need to talk. That wasn’t it. That wasn’t it, bruv! You know it!”
“I think he’ll make an apology at some point. Not now, but in time. He’ll come on the pod one day and say, ‘Do you know what, that wasn’t a good one. I won’t be watching that again.’”
Roy Keane (Sky Sports):
“Walker must be embarrassed. He must be embarrassed to go down like that – an experienced player. I don’t know the guy, but I’m embarrassed for him. It’s embarrassing.”
Gary Neville (during commentary):
“It’s poor from Kyle Walker. He goes down when he realizes there might have been contact. I think he will be a little bit embarrassed when he sees that back.”
CITATIONS:
Reports from Sky Sports, Instagram, and Rio Ferdinand’s podcast have all highlighted the fall-out from Walker’s incident with Hojlund, which quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the game.
KEEP IN MIND:
Kyle Walker’s performance on Sunday added to a season of mixed form for the defender, who also faced backlash after City’s Champions League loss to Juventus earlier this month.
While it’s been a rough patch for the 34-year-old, he’ll be hoping to turn things around quickly. And if Rio Ferdinand’s predictions are anything to go by, Walker may soon find himself apologizing for his antics in the derby—hopefully with a little less drama next time.
