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KYLE WALKER left a ­Manchester City team in a bit of a pickle — but ­nothing compared to the Milan mess he walked into.

The England right-back faces a Serie A baptism of fire against city rivals Inter at the San Siro on Sunday.

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Milan consider the arrival of City skipper Walker, 34, a major coup and want him to bring leadership to a group that seems seriously flaky.

Signed on loan with a view to a £4million summer move, he joins fellow Englishmen Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and on loan Tammy Abraham at the club.

Walker watched from the San Siro stands on Sunday as new Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao and defender Davide Calabria had a heated exchange on the pitch after a 3-2 comeback win over Parma.

Conceicao was appointed on December 30 after the sacking of Paulo Fonseca and is concerned by the squad’s attitude.

Calabria and Loftus-Cheek were among a group of players who went to see a rapper perform in Milan 48 hours before the game — and this has been seen as unprofessional.

Although they are through to the Champions League play-off round, Milan are seventh in Serie A and facing a battle to qualify for Europe next season.

To make matters worse, Inter are in a two-way title battle with Napoli.

Milan’s ultras protested outside a private event marking the 125th anniversary of the club’s foundation — with much criticism of American owners RedBird Capital Partners.

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Club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic — now a senior advisor and operating partner — and president Gerry Cardinale had to enter through a side entrance.

Ibra’s commitment has been questioned given the time he spends on Austria’s ski slopes.

Cardinale is criticised for not being in Italy enough and caused uproar by selling Sandro Tonali to Newcastle in 2023.

Ibrahimovic hosted a lengthy 40-minute unveiling press conference with Walker this week.

He oddly said: “Kyle was not necessarily an objective we were looking at.

“The opportunity arose, we had our fingers on the pulse and it was better having him than not having him.”

Walker becomes the club’s SEVENTH right-back this term, including centre-half Tomori who struggled in that position in Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League loss at Dinamo Zagreb.

Although he has lost some of his pace and struggled for form and fitness over the last nine months, Milan officials believe Walker will be able to deal with Italian football.

But Tomori, who has played 163 times for Milan since signing in 2021, has not been in good form. He is unlikely to play on Sunday and may be sold.

The same applies to Loftus-Cheek, who is sidelined with a hamstring problem.

He enjoyed a good season last term, but is not suited to the attacking midfield role he has been asked to play.

Abraham — on loan from Roma — has just six goals so far.

Another Brit abroad to make Europe’s fashion capital his home is Walker’s mate Dele Alli, who joined nearby Como.

English players have often found Italian football tough in the past although David Beckham is remembered fondly for his two loan spells at Milan.

And Walker has taken the same shirt number as Beckham wore at Milan – 32.

Whether he will become as popular remains to be seen.

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NEW England captain Maro Itoje has pleaded with Six Nations bosses not to sell out the soul of the game for cash.

This season’s tournament marks the end of the current broadcasting deal with BBC and ITV.

Six Nations chiefs are ready to deal a new deal with a Pay-TV broadcaster, meaning the tournament would be off free to air screens for the first time in its history.

But ahead of his England captaincy debut against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, Red Rose skipper Itoje urged tournament organisers to put history and the good of the game ahead of money.

Itoje said: “The Six Nations should stay on free to air TV.

“The Six Nations should be viewed by as many people as possible.

“I grew up watching the Six Nations on the BBC and on ITV.

“The fact that it’s been on free-to-air, for so many people – I think rugby needs more eyes on it, not less.”

Itoje added: “Obviously I am not involved in the finances of the deals.

“But even though international rugby is massive, the sport should be looking at ways to be more accessible to more people, as opposed to the opposite.”

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BBC and ITV paid £90m per year for their current deal, with broadcasting insiders suggesting Six Nations bosses are being tempted by an offer from TNT Sports worth only £10m more per tournament.

BBC presenter Gabby Logan unsurprisingly backed the Itoje view, pondering: “Is this rugby union shooting itself in the foot again?”

Logan added: “We’re talking about people who don’t watch rugby all the time.

“That neutral fan, who doesn’t really know rugby, they’re not necessarily going to bother to buy TNT or wherever the sport takes the Six Nations.

“If the Six Nations goes behind a paywall, those people enjoying these massive occasions and enjoying the combat and the rivalry will be completely lost.”

Itoje, meanwhile, has backed his side to upset the oddsmakers and land an opening weekend shock.

England are 5-2 outsiders, with statistics gurus Opta giving them only a TWO per cent chance of winning the title.

Itoje scoffed: “That’s funny!

“When people write you off, it always gets the juices flowing a little bit.

“It always gives you a little bit of extra motivation and a bit more anticipation for what you can do and what you can achieve.”

2025 Six Nations Fixtures & TV Schedule

Round 1
France v Wales | January 31 at 8.15pm | ITV
Scotland v Italy | February 1 at 2.15pm | BBC
Ireland v England | February 1 at 4.45pm | ITV

Round 2
Italy v Wales | February 8 at 2.15pm | ITV
England v France | February 8 at 4.45pm | ITV
Scotland v Ireland | February 9 at 3pm | BBC

Round 3
Wales v Ireland | February 22 at 2.15pm | BBC
England v Scotland | February 22 at 4.45pm | ITV
Italy v France | February 23 at 3pm | ITV

Round 4
Ireland v France | March 8 at 2.15pm | ITV
Scotland v Wales | March 8 at 4.45pm | BBC
England v Italy | March 9 at 3pm | ITV

Round 5
Italy v Ireland | March 15 at 2.15pm | ITV
Wales v England | March 15 at 4.45pm | BBC
France v Scotland | March 15 at 8pm | ITV

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