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00:00Do you play well? Do you play the shoulder slammer?
00:04No, no, no, I'm not good, I swear.
00:06Your pre-match routine has become pretty famous, like spraying water from your mouth.
00:10Triple 8, he was my favourite wrestler. I was going into the ring when I was playing football,
00:14so it's just become an omen. I've carried it on ever since.
00:19I'm getting in trouble.
00:21I knew that, I knew that.
00:24Why did you choose number 32?
00:26Because of David Beckham and him being just an icon.
00:30Oh my God.
00:46Karl-Andrew Walker, welcome to AC Milan. How does it feel to be an AC Milan player?
00:51It's great. It's something that, you know, as a young kid I've always watched AC.
00:55And to actually put on the famous colours, I'm very proud and hopefully it can be a good end of the season.
01:03Your first interview as a Rossonero player will be a little bit particular,
01:07because right now we're going to play table football.
01:09I don't know if you're good at table football, but if I score, I will ask you an off the pitch question.
01:15If you manage to score, I will ask you an on the pitch question.
01:19I know it's hard to beat you in one-on-one.
01:22I know this is a famous question around the world, so I'm going to try that.
01:25Let's see what happens.
01:27OK, let's go.
01:28You ready?
01:29Yeah, let's go.
01:40OK, I scored my own goal.
01:42Let's start with a particular one.
01:44You've learned a lot throughout your career and you've decided to create and open your own academy.
01:49Can you tell us more about this project?
01:51Well, from where I'm from in Sheffield, obviously, there's little opportunity.
01:56And I feel that there is a lot of kids that are on the streets or don't have a chance to go and make it as a footballer.
02:04I was one of them and it became very lucky that I did become a footballer.
02:08So it was about giving back to the city, back to the city of where I'm from.
02:12And hopefully if I can help one person achieve their dream, then that was the main goal in it.
02:17Go on, Neil.
02:18Do you play well?
02:19No, no, no.
02:20I'm not good, I swear.
02:21I swear, I'm not good.
02:22OK.
02:23Not good.
02:24OK, this is a nice one.
02:25Your pre-match routine has become pretty famous, like spraying water from your mouth.
02:30Where does this habit come from?
02:32I did it when I was a kid, so playing for Sheffield United again.
02:35I used to watch a lot of wrestling, so Triple H.
02:39So he was my favourite wrestler.
02:41He decided to do that before, you know, every time he went into the ring.
02:44So I was going into the ring when I was playing football.
02:47So it had just become a moment and I've carried it on ever since.
02:58I knew that.
02:59I knew that.
03:00I knew that.
03:012-1.
03:02On the pitch question.
03:03How have you changed throughout the years?
03:05I mean, you've been saying that when you played for Tottenham you weighed five kilos less compared to now.
03:10And right now you've recently started to do weight training in the gym.
03:14What kind of impact did it have on the way you play?
03:17I just felt that the modern day football now, with the wingers that I come up against,
03:23it wasn't just about what I was gifted with genetically.
03:26I feel that if I can add something in the gym that makes me stronger, quicker, you know, and more durable,
03:33then that's why I decided to do that.
03:35Obviously, I've been very blessed by my mum and dad giving me these genetics.
03:39But you can always add.
03:40And I feel that, you know, I'm so hungry to win things, so hungry to play football.
03:44And I want to play football for as long as possible.
03:54Norway!
03:552-2. I'm bringing it back.
03:57Another own goal.
03:58So have you already spoken with someone who had the chance to wear the AC Milan jersey or is actually wearing it?
04:04And if yes, what have they told you about the club?
04:07No, I reached out to Tammy, you know, asked him what the city was like,
04:10you know, obviously what it's actually like to play for AC Milan.
04:14You have the outside perception of looking in, of it being a massive club,
04:18and the players that have played for it, you know, Kaká, Ronaldinho, David Beckham,
04:22you know, these types of players, Maldini.
04:24These are players that I look up to, and just to be a part of that, you know,
04:28he said that you have to come, you have to experience this city,
04:30and, you know, that's kind of what made my decision.
04:35No way, no way, no way.
04:40If you look back when it all started, and look at yourself in the mirror now,
04:45anybody's got his dreams, of course, but do you feel you've gone beyond them or not?
04:50One million percent I think I've probably gone beyond them.
04:53To play for my boyhood club, Sheffield United, was my dream.
04:56To do that at the age of 18, I did that.
04:59To then obviously have some fantastic years at Tottenham,
05:01but not really, you know, achieving or winning the things that we should have won.
05:06To then go to Manchester City and win 17 trophies in the last seven years
05:10has been, you know, out of this world, and especially the big one,
05:15which is the Champions League, which we finally managed to do
05:17within a treble season, was fantastic.
05:20So, over the last, you know, seven years have been more than enough,
05:25but, you know, my full career of just being able to play football,
05:28you know, being able to do the job that I love,
05:30it's been a dream come true.
05:36No way!
05:37Left-back scorer, yeah.
05:39Yep, well done.
05:40Yep, yep, yep.
05:41You were born on May 28th in 1990 in Sheffield,
05:44and May 28th is a significant day for AC Milan,
05:47as the club claimed on that day in 2003 its sixth UEFA Champions League title in Manchester.
05:53Can we say it was kind of destiny you would have joined our club?
05:57I think now, looking back, it might have been.
05:59Obviously, it's an important day for myself, but an important day for this great club.
06:04So, you know, hopefully there's more Champions League finals to come,
06:08and we can create more history.
06:09What do you expect from the AC Milan fans, you know, from the stadium, from the crowd?
06:13No, I've seen, you know, obviously the YouTube videos, the TikTok videos.
06:17The fans here are incredible.
06:19You know, they show great passion.
06:21You know, they live for football here,
06:24and that was a big, a massive choice of me coming here.
06:27You know, I still want to feel the passion of football.
06:30It's something that we all love, whether it's the players or the fans.
06:34So, for them to obviously sing as they do, you know, chant as they do,
06:37and support us through home and away, it means the world.
06:40And, you know, you need to continue because it's a big push
06:43till the end of the season now to finish strongly.
06:46I see that you've chosen number 32.
06:49Yeah.
06:50You know that number 32 has been worn by such an important English player.
06:54Correct.
06:55In AC Milan's history, like David Beckham.
06:57Yeah.
06:58And why did you choose number 32?
07:00First and foremost, obviously, because of David Beckham.
07:04I've seen that that number was available,
07:06and being English, and him being just an icon for our country,
07:11I hope he doesn't mind that, you know, I wanted to wear 32.
07:16Also, you know, it resembles the number 2 shirt
07:18that I've worn throughout my career.
07:20So, to have that on the end, you know, it means a lot.
07:23What's the score? Did I get one for this one?
07:25No.
07:26Are you sure?
07:27Yeah.
07:28We have time to get it.
07:29OK.
07:32Ooh.
07:34Your condition's growing.
07:35Yeah, I'm getting the hang of it now.
07:37Yeah, yeah.
07:38I think I was a bit nervous before, you know, with the people.
07:40You felt pressure?
07:41Yeah.
07:42You'll be back playing at the San Siro,
07:44and the last time you've been there...
07:46He's smiling, I don't know why.
07:48You have also played there as a goalkeeper.
07:50Yeah.
07:51Can you relive that moment with us?
07:53It was a different experience, but it was between me and John.
07:57So, the manager, me and John,
07:59are always giving the goalkeepers a lot of stick
08:01when they don't save the balls.
08:03So, the manager kind of put us to the test,
08:05and he picked me to go in net.
08:07Would I want to do it again? Probably not.
08:09It was very scary, but, you know,
08:12it was an important role that I had to play for the team
08:14to get them over the line into the Champions League.
08:16And, you know, I managed to save that free kick,
08:19and I don't really have a meme or anything now.
08:22In training time, you like to put pressure on the goalkeepers.
08:25What's behind this attitude and habit you have?
08:28You know, as a defender and as a goalkeeper,
08:30you need to have a good relationship.
08:32I feel you have to have relationships all across the pitch,
08:34but, you know, we're the last line of defence.
08:37And it's about pushing them.
08:39You know, I want to push the teammates,
08:41and I want to push myself to become better players.
08:43You know, and we need to make sure throughout all the team
08:46that we rely on each other.
08:48So, good friendly banter, as we call it in England,
08:50is always good, you know,
08:52and it makes you sure that each and every day at training
08:55you're giving 110%,
08:57and that then replicates into the matches.
09:05Yes!
09:08If you only had one chance to say thank you to somebody,
09:11which person would you choose in your life?
09:14I would say my grandad that passed away.
09:16Oh.
09:17If I could, or if he could have seen me,
09:19you know, achieve what I've achieved.
09:21He was the one that first took me to the Sheffield United matches.
09:24He was the one that got me into football,
09:26paid for my season ticket.
09:28So, it would just be thank you for him to,
09:30you know, for me to get the opportunity to watch my boyhood club.
09:34Great for me, a net walker.
09:36Yeah.
09:37You're going to let me win this, aren't you?
09:40We knew that you played as a striker when you were a child, right?
09:43Yeah.
09:44How did you progressively develop your transformation
09:46becoming a right full-back, and thanks to who?
09:49It was a coach at Sheffield United called Sam Safe.
09:52I wasn't playing as a centre-forward.
09:55I was a very late developer.
09:57I was very small but quick,
09:59and people were pushing me off the ball.
10:01You know, the defenders were a lot bigger.
10:03So, our right back got injured,
10:06and he said, do I fancy playing there?
10:09I was quick.
10:10I could defend, you know, well,
10:11because I played a lot of street football,
10:13you know, one-on-ones and stuff like that.
10:15And I played there, played really well.
10:17Two months later, I'm in the first team.
10:19So, it kind of was a coincidence.
10:23Obviously, someone got injured.
10:25I then had to play there,
10:26but it seemed to fit me really well, and I enjoyed it.
10:28I liked the challenge.
10:29I liked the challenge of going one-on-one against people
10:31and putting myself to the test.
10:37I'm risking, mate.
10:38I'm risking.
10:43Who was your idol when you were a child?
10:45And do you also have an idol besides football?
10:47You know, I watched a lot of the Premier League.
10:49Dani Alves, apart from that,
10:51was, you know, someone that I looked up to.
10:54Philipp Lahm, I've said it in interviews before,
10:56you know, if you could merge them two players together,
10:59I think you've got the complete right back.
11:01But I think now, you know, I try and, you know,
11:04make sure that I can adapt to my qualities,
11:07the things that I've got,
11:08the things that I can improve on,
11:10and just make sure that I'm the best version of myself.
11:12All I can do is give 110% when I got onto the pitch.
11:16As you said before, you know,
11:17I've achieved a lot in the game,
11:18and hopefully, you know, one day,
11:19people do look up to me and say I wanted to be like him.
11:22The winner takes it all.
11:23The winner takes it...
11:24OK, all right, I don't mind that.
11:37Do you feel the pressure, guys?
11:38Yeah.
11:39OK.
11:47OK, we're done.
11:48I wanted another question from you, so that was it.
11:51We have noticed many tattoos.
11:52Which are the ones you love the most
11:54and consider more important than others?
11:56I'd probably say the ones on my left leg,
11:58because it's a journey of my football.
12:00You know, it's a journey of the clubs that I played for.
12:03I've got the Tottenham tattoo, Sheffield United, Man City.
12:08Now there's going to have to be an AC Milan one there.
12:12But I think that just shows the journey of my football
12:15and what I've achieved in the job that I love.
12:19We want to be with you when you tattoo
12:21the AC Milan logo.
12:22You can video it.
12:23As soon as possible.
12:24Yeah.
12:25So, Kyle, I know it was hard to beat you on one versus one,
12:29but I did it.
12:30I hope you don't mind that.
12:31No, no, it's fine.
12:32It's fine.
12:33I wanted to welcome you well.
12:35I hope you get way more successes, of course, on the pitch.
12:38Yeah, I'm so excited to put this jersey on.
12:40I'm so excited to play in this fantastic stadium.
12:43And hopefully we can finish the season good.
12:46Obviously, the Champions League is going really well.
12:48The league, I think we all know, could be a little bit better.
12:51But that's important.
12:53With my experience,
12:54hopefully I can bring that to some of the younger players.
12:56And play with passion.
12:58I think that's what we need to show.
13:00And I think that's what the fans deserve.
13:02Bernard, I'm going to thank you for your time.
13:03Thank you so much.
13:04Thank you very much.
13:05I really appreciate it.
13:06Forza Milan!