James Trafford Admits Surprise at Manchester City's Donnarumma Signing
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford has openly confessed that he was completely unaware of the club's intentions to sign Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma during the summer transfer window. The revelation casts significant uncertainty over Trafford's future with the Premier League champions, as he now finds himself contemplating his next career move.
A Deadline Day Move That Changed Everything
Donnarumma's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day for a substantial £26 million fee came as a shock to Trafford, who had started the first three Premier League matches of the season. The young English goalkeeper had turned down a move to Newcastle United to rejoin Manchester City from Burnley for £27 million, fully expecting to compete for the number one shirt. Instead, the unexpected signing has left him reassessing his position at the club.
"I didn't expect the situation to happen, but it’s happened, so you just get on with it," the 23-year-old stated candidly. When pressed to clarify whether he was referring specifically to Donnarumma's signing, Trafford confirmed, "Yeah. It's happened so I’ll work very hard every day and then see what happens, give it my best shot."
No Forewarning and Future Considerations
Trafford emphasized that there was no indication of City's interest in Donnarumma when he committed to the club. "No, no. It’s just another experience to add to my career and yeah, it has been good learning," he remarked. This lack of communication has reportedly led to internal discussions about his future, with the situation set to be reviewed at the season's conclusion.
Manchester City had reportedly initiated contact regarding Donnarumma earlier in the summer, but PSG's initial demand of £35 million delayed proceedings. Meanwhile, Trafford's concerns about missing out on England's World Cup squad prompted him to seek a move during the winter window, as reported by Daily Mail Sport in December.
Guardiola's Stance and Squad Dynamics
Pep Guardiola intervened, insisting that Trafford was needed for the Carabao Cup and FA Cup campaigns, especially with Stefan Ortega departing for Nottingham Forest. Despite this, Trafford remains pragmatic about his circumstances. "Obviously everyone knows what's going on with me so I've just got to play as well as I can whenever I play," he added. "Let's take it a day at a time and try and work as hard as I can and whatever happens, happens."
Interest from Other Clubs and Professional Respect
At least one Premier League club has already expressed interest in Trafford, with more suitors anticipated in the coming months. Trafford acknowledged his contractual obligations but remained noncommittal about his future. "I've obviously got a contract. I don't know what happens next season. I just know that I'll just take it a day at a time and try and improve," he explained.
Despite the competitive tension, Trafford spoke highly of Donnarumma, describing him as "a great fella" and "a lovely man." He added, "We both train as hard as we can and try to improve ourselves. Obviously he's had a great career so far and he's got great standards." This professional respect underscores the complex dynamics within Manchester City's goalkeeping department as the season progresses.
