"In a World Cup year, Pep will have given him the full sales pitch saying, 'you are coming in and the number one jersey is yours. You will be playing regularly, challenging for the Premier League and playing Champions League football and if you play your cards right, you might be playing for England in the World Cup next summer'."
"Fast forward two weeks and the big man Donnarumma comes in and he is parked up for the season. If it was me, I'd be raging. Raging! To have had that conversation and then this guy turns up - what does Trafford do now?"
"I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City, This is the place I call home."
James Trafford, 22, returned to Manchester City on a five-year deal after coming through the City academy and spending 2023–24 at Burnley, where he experienced relegation then helped secure promotion. He received the number one shirt and started City’s first three Premier League matches, positioning him to challenge for the first-choice goalkeeper role and potential England selection. On transfer deadline day Ederson left and Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma for £26m, with Donnarumma installed as the preferred keeper and Trafford moved down the pecking order. Trafford had declined a Newcastle opportunity to choose City and now faces reduced playing time.
Read at www.bbc.com
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