Manchester City are blessed in the playmaker department with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer at their disposal, but Sam Lee of The Athletic says Pep Guardiola plans to develop James McAtee in their footsteps.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
The 19-year-old has risen through the youth ranks to the fringes City’s first-team and looks to have real potential. McAtee has scored 14 goals with eight assists from 33 games for the U18s, scored three goals from two games for the U19s and scored 27 goals with 19 assists from 52 games for the U23s.
Lee says McAtee’s impressive form at youth level sees him ‘wanted’ by a host of Premier League clubs, but Guardiola has no intention of letting him go. The 19-year-old will hope to emulate Foden’s rise to prominence, but there are a lot of players standing in his way of getting playing time.
Nevertheless, Guardiola doesn’t have an issue developing attacking players and handed Premier League minutes to five teenagers last season, so he is blooding through the youngsters. McAtee has six first-team appearances to his name but only 116 minutes of playing time, so he’ll hope for more opportunities in 2022/23.
In other news, Kayky who was signed for £10m in 2021 ‘could go’ out on loan this summer
Hi, So Sam Lee is saying what I have been telling you Crippy for the past three months. Macatee is staying put at City.
Tell Sam I’m glad he has caught up eventually!