James Trafford is right to be unhappy and frustrated, but has to do something about his Manchester City nightmare the first chance he gets.
Walking out on Pep Guardiola is a big gamble. But when it comes to the curious case of James Trafford, he doesn’t have much of a choice.
Trafford has revealed he had no idea Manchester City were planning to sign another goalkeeper when he agreed to make a return to the Etihad from Burnley last summer. But he should have done. Or at least those people at CAA Stellar, who look after him, should. Trafford could have gone to Newcastle United.
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But City had first option on re-signing Trafford and took advantage of their situation to take him back. Just over a month after returning to the Etihad, Guardiola went and spent £26million on luring Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain.
And Trafford’s fate was sealed. The end result is a professional nightmare for Trafford. He is second fiddle to a great ‘keeper, restricted to run-outs in cup games and nothing more.
When it comes to the Premier League and Champions League, Trafford will be stuck on the bench unless Donnarumma gets injured.
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And this will cost Trafford a realistic chance of going to the World Cup with England this summer. World Cups don’t come around too often in a player’s career.
Trafford still has time on his side because he’s still only 23. But if he wants to become the long-term successor to Jordan Pickford, and he’s good enough to do so, he has to leave City come the end of the season.
Trafford is too talented to be a part-time goalkeeper. He’s proved this on the rare occasions he’s been given matches by Guardiola this season.
“I’ve obviously got a contract, but I don’t know what happens next season,” said Trafford, “I just know that I’ll just take it a day at a time and try and improve.”
He does know. He knows unless Donnarumma leaves the Etihad, which isn’t going to happen, his situation will remain the same.
Nothing will change. Trafford has to be selfish and do what is best for himself. And if that means turning your back on arguably the greatest manager of all time, then so be it.
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