James Trafford is sat in the stands watching on and it’s killing him.
The young shot stopper thought he was coming home when he rocked back up at the Etihad last summer. Instead, he’s walked into a professional nightmare, stuck behind a £26m wall named Gianluigi Donnarumma with Pep Guardiola showing no signs of handing him the gloves.
Trafford has opened up on his shock at discovering City were plotting to sign another keeper AFTER he’d agreed to return from Burnley. But here’s the thing, he should’ve seen it coming.
Newcastle were sniffing around. The Geordies wanted him. But City triggered their first option clause, lured him back, and then BANG, a month later, Donnarumma walks through the door on big money.
Now Trafford’s left clutching a bib instead of a matchball, restricted to the occasional cup run out while the Italian giants get all the glamour ties. Premier League? Champions League? Forget it. Not unless Donnarumma pulls up lame.
And here’s the real kicker, this is costing him a World Cup spot.
Thomas Tuchel will be naming his England squad for the summer, and Trafford’s watching from the sidelines. World Cups don’t come round every year. At 23, he’s got time on his side but time waits for no keeper when Jordan Pickford’s still between the sticks for the Three Lions.
Trafford’s good enough. We’ve seen it. But he needs to be PLAYING.
Walking out on Guardiola is a massive gamble. Let’s not kid ourselves. But what’s the alternative? Rotting on the bench while his career stalls and another tournament passes him by?
The lad’s frustrated. He’s got every right to be. But frustration don’t win you caps or silverware. Action does.
Come summer, Trafford has to do the hard thing, knock on the door, ask for a move, and get his career back on track. CAA Stellar, his reps, need to earn their corn here.
Another season like this and he’s not just second choice at City, he’s third choice for England. And that’s a tragedy waiting to happen.
