James McAtee has been reluctantly let go by Manchester City and Pep Guardiola as he makes the switch to Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest are set to secure a triple swoop that includes McAtee. This is a move that is sure to excite fans, as Nuno Espirito Santo builds his squad to compete in four competitions.
The prospect of Morgan Gibbs-White and McAtee playing together is certainly an idea Forest fans will be eager to see, even if Guardiola still wishes the player stayed at Man City.
However, the Spaniard has now revealed the reason he has let the talented midfielder depart, despite being full of praise for the player.
Manchester City ace James McAtee
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Pep Guardiola wanted to keep James McAtee before Nottingham Forest move
Pep Guardiola has never been shy about how he views the talents of James McAtee. Even going back to last summer, the Spaniard told Txiki Begiristain that he didn’t want the midfielder to be sold or loaned.
However, one year on, McAtee is leaving Manchester City and joining up with Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad, and Pep has now revealed why he has let him leave this year.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of his side’s match against Wolves, Guardiola admitted he understood why the player wanted to go, saying, “I’d love to have Macca with me, but we have too many players, and he wanted more minutes. He believes going to another place, he’ll have it. And I understand completely!’
Pep Guardiola celebrates with James McAtee following game against Bratislava in the Champions League
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The City boss goes on to say that the 22-year-old is good enough to play for Manchester City, stating, ‘Macca had the potential to be with us, yes or yes,’ but his wish of securing more minutes was too much of a factor to get him to stay.
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Now, Nottingham Forest are set to take advantage by securing a highly talented player in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s admission highlights quality of James McAtee
The fact that a manager of Pep Guardiola’s stature has so much praise for James McAtee just highlights what a talent Nottingham Forest are securing.
McAtee is viewed by Forest as versatile, able to operate in a number of positions in midfield, and will no doubt add more quality to a team hoping to secure Europe once again.
Pep Guardiola embraces James McAtee during game against Crystal Palace at the Etihad
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Unfortunately for the club, Manchester City included a clause that could hurt Forest down the line, but in the short term, the Garibaldi will benefit from the presence of McAtee.
McAtee was poised to be the Gibbs-White replacement, but with the Forest midfielder signing a new deal, seeing McAtee and the 25-year-old lining up together has become a reality.