When you manage one of the world’s best clubs and can boast total Premier League dominance in season, season after season, then you have a world-class squad. At the same time, this means that younger players from the academy will be banging against the door of playing time without getting the opportunity for their breakthrough. Cole Palmer made the decision in the summer of 2023 not to accept Guardiola’s playing time crumbs, and signed with Chelsea. It turned out to be the Premier League’s strongest signing, while Guardiola soon realised what a brilliant player he had indirectly pushed out of the club. Now there could be a new “Cole Palmer” situation at City.
James McAtee is very frustrating to see the City team underperform like never before under Guardiola – with himself still sitting on the bench.
The former academy player was promoted to the first team in 2021, but had to go on two loan spells to Sheffield United to get game time. The 22-year-old is up and coming, part of the England U23 national team, but has so far been given 15 games by Pep Guardiola.
The attacking midfielder is very unhappy with access to playing time and has opened up about leaving the club. This has caused almost two handfuls of clubs to get ready.
According to the English media, these clubs have shown great interest in signing McAtee in January:
Brentford, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Fiorentina, Bologna, Nottingham Forest
This season, the 22-year-old has been given 333 minutes on the pitch spread over 8 games, with his contract expiring in 2026, McAtee is unlikely to sign an extension. For the nine clubs, this seems like a “Cole Palmer opportunity”, with yet another former academy player with a City education getting tired of being patient with Guardiola and taking the breakthrough outside City.
