Inside Man City's heated locker room argument which left Pep Guardiola in tears

A tense locker room argument between Kyle Walker and Pep Guardiola back in December 2024 has recently come to light -Credit:BEN STANSALL, AFP via Getty Images Pep Guardiola's explosive confrontation with Kyle Walker left the Manchester City boss struggling to hold back tears, as shown in a newly released documentary. The two engaged in a heated altercation in the Anfield dressing room that ultimately contributed to Walker's departure from the club. Following a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in December 2024, Walker turned on his manager, furious at being made a scapegoat. The clash occurred just days after Guardiola had penned a contract extension. "You keep saying my name, every meeting," new footage shows Walker venting angrily, via The Mirror. "Every f***ing meeting it's my name." -Credit:JONATHAN NACKSTRAND, AFP via Getty Images When Guardiola responded that Walker's name frequently arose due to his captaincy role, the England international fired back, claiming: "You didn't want me to be a captain." The right-back pressed on: "I've reacted to someone else, I've lost the ball, you somehow bring my name into it." The heated exchange features in a brand-new four-part Prime Video documentary titled 'A Beautiful Obsession,' which offers exclusive behind-the-scenes access from Guardiola's final two seasons at the helm of City. In response to Walker's outburst, the Catalan tactician visibly struggled to compose himself while delivering an emotional address to his squad. "If I am a problem, you have to tell me," Guardiola said. "I won't stay here for the money or just for the fact of staying. "I extended the contract because I want to be with you, I want to fight in that position. I don't want you to feel like I'm leaving and running away from you. "I don't want to have the feeling that the pieces fall down. And I feel, 'No, I want to help you.' But if you feel, captains first and then the other ones, that there is a problem? Tell me. It's not going to change the love I have for all of you. Not one second. But I want to fight. That's all. I'm sorry." To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE Walker featured in just seven more games for the club, three of them wearing the captain's armband, before heading to AC Milan on loan for the second half of the 2024/25 season. "Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career," Guardiola said after leaving Walker out of his squad for an FA Cup match against Salford City in January 2025. "And for that reason I prefer to play other players whose mind is here." The Treble winner departed permanently in the summer of 2025 following more than 300 appearances for City, signing for Burnley. Guardiola ultimately remained at City through the 2025/26 season, stepping down a year before his contract was due to expire. The Spaniard's exit was officially confirmed ahead of the final game of the campaign, just days after a draw with AFC Bournemouth effectively ended the Manchester club's title aspirations. He departed having claimed six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and one UEFA Champions League. Guardiola suggested he would find it difficult to return to management following his resignation, with his final two seasons having unfolded amid significant personal turmoil. • Chelsea rename youth teams in controversial move to 'strengthen the academy's identity' • Wayne Rooney urges Man United to sign Arsenal star and sends Marcus Rashford warning He separated from his wife, Cristina Sierra, in January 2025, although they have since started working toward a reconciliation. Sierra attended Guardiola's farewell match alongside their children, a moment that he characterized as "so special to me." "It will be difficult to come back, that's my feeling today," he said after confirming his departure. "I need to refresh many things that happened in my personal life and professional [life]. "What I've found, I need to find myself a little bit, in different things. Especially sitting and seeing time go by." De Bruyne's tears Kevin De Bruyne struggled to hold back tears when he processed leaving Manchester City. The Belgian midfielder secured six Premier League championships with the club and was a crucial component of their Treble-winning squad in 2022/23, but his tenure at the Etihad Stadium reached an unexpected conclusion after manager Pep Guardiola and City officials informed him that he would not receive a contract extension. "It's really hard," De Bruyne said. "My kids don't want to go. -Credit:Ben Roberts - Danehouse, Getty Images "It's been really stressful days and I'm not making decisions any more based on myself. It's easy to go to another team and play football. But it's been a tough time for us as a family." De Bruyne joined City from Wolfsburg in August 2015, spending one season under Manuel Pellegrini and nine under Guardiola. He ranks second on the all-time Premier League assist leaderboard and played a pivotal role as City claimed an unprecedented four consecutive league titles under Guardiola. City's manager departed 12 months later, having added two further trophies, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, in 2026. De Bruyne's exit formed part of a broader strategy to transition toward younger players capable of delivering results for years ahead. "We are going from a winning team that have been unbelievable [and] we have to create a new one," said City's then director of football Txiki Begiristain. "The [players] that made us the winners of everything, now they have to leave and we have to bring new people, new legs, new energy. Because if not, we won't win." City have since invested in younger talents, including Rayan Cherki, who was 21 when he arrived as De Bruyne's replacement. Begiristain also stepped aside for a younger sporting director after 13 years, with Hugo Viana assuming the role. • FIFA fires executive after he called for embattled President Gianni Infantino to resign • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang embraces new La Liga challenge with Deportivo La Coruña In the first summer without Guardiola at the helm, the club shattered their transfer record to secure 23-year-old England midfielder Elliot Anderson. Cherki convinced Pep Guardiola overlooked Rayan Cherki's red flags to push through his final marquee signing. Cherki's 'chaotic' reputation left City's hierarchy divided over whether he was the right fit to succeed Kevin De Bruyne. Director of Football Hugo Viana acknowledged that the player's off-field reputation raised concerns. But the midfielder developed a connection with Guardiola when the manager reached out to him from his Manchester restaurant, and the French international made an immediate impact after winning over the trust of the man he described as the "best coach in the world." Cherki shined for his nation against Spain in the UEFA Nations League just days before joining City. Guardiola joked that City CEO Ferran Soriano was irritated because the Lyon native added £10 million ($13.5 million) to his transfer fee with that display, but he pushed for the deal, and Cherki arrived for £34 million ($46 million) in June 2025. Cherki's name emerged as a potential successor to De Bruyne when the Belgian departed the Etihad Stadium. There were doubts about his mentality, but Guardiola was keen to bring him into the squad. -Credit:Naomi Baker, Getty Images "The information on Cherki was not so positive," Viana said. Soriano added: "Everybody knew about his abilities but there was this idea that he was chaotic." However, the CEO later informed Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak that assessments from Viana and former sporting director Txiki Begiristain shifted the club's perspective. "There was one who gave a bad report but [from] when he was very young so they're getting convinced that maybe his behaviour is just a myth," Soriano said. Cherki made an immediate impression, finding the net in the Club World Cup and contributing a goal during his Premier League bow for City. He concluded his inaugural campaign in English soccer with 10 goals, 15 assists, and two pieces of silverware - the FA Cup and Carabao Cup - and represented one of the closing acquisitions of the Guardiola era before the manager's departure at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.