Manchester City sold one of their top talents in the summer and the player has spoken about the decision to leave Etihad Stadium and join another Premier League team.
James McAtee joined Nottingham Forest and has shared his reasons for leaving and his ambitions to reignite his career at the City Ground.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who was highly rated within City’s academy system, made the bold decision to end his long association with the Sky Blues over the summer, signing for Forest in a £30 million deal.
After limited playing time at the Etihad, McAtee felt the time was right to seek new opportunities where he could feature regularly and continue his development.
Last season, the England Under-21 international was part of a Manchester City squad that endured one of their most testing campaigns under Guardiola.
Despite contributing when called upon — including a goal on his full Premier League debut in a 5–2 win over Crystal Palace — James McAtee joined Nottingham Forest due to lack of playing time at City.
The midfielder admitted that the lack of consistent minutes made it difficult to build rhythm and confidence.
“I just want consistent football,” McAtee told FourFourTwo. “I feel like I’ve not had that for a good three years now – and it’s hard to always get back in the rhythm straight away.
“But I know that I have to work hard for it and prove myself. In every good team, you’re going to have to battle for your spot. That’s something I’m willing to do.”
McAtee’s comments explain a growing frustration among young City players who, despite coming through one of the best youth setups in England, have struggled to find pathways into Guardiola’s star-studded first team.
A fresh start and a familiar challenge at Nottingham Forest
Meanwhile, James McAtee joined Nottingham Forest during a summer of major upheaval at Manchester City. With Hugo Viana replacing Txiki Begiristain as director of football, several high-profile names were allowed to leave, including Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan.
Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji also departed on season-long loans to Everton and Inter Milan respectively, as Guardiola sought to refresh his squad.
For McAtee, who had briefly considered a move away in January before staying to help City finish third in the Premier League, the decision to finally part ways was made after lengthy discussions about his role and future prospects.
A number of European clubs were reportedly interested in the Salford-born playmaker, but Forest’s promise of regular football and a key role in their project proved decisive.
Having captained England’s Under-21s to European Championship glory in the summer, McAtee arrived at the City Ground full of confidence and determination.
Yet, his start to life at Forest has not been entirely smooth. The club has endured a turbulent beginning to the season, both on and off the pitch, with questions lingering over their form and squad cohesion.
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Despite the early challenges, McAtee insists he remains focused on long-term growth and contributing to Forest’s ambitions.
“I want to try to impress here,” he said. “It will be fun and interesting.”
The midfielder is set to face his old club when Forest meet City in December, a fixture that promises to be emotionally charged for him.
Although he insists he hasn’t given it much thought yet, the meeting will no doubt serve as a measure of how far he’s come since leaving Guardiola’s side.
Meanwhile, critics argue that Manchester City’s transfer policy has left little room for young talent to flourish internally.
For players like McAtee, the path to regular first-team football was always going to be narrow amid fierce competition and the club’s pursuit of immediate success..
