Enzo Maresca outlines Man City feeling on James Trafford Leeds United transfer ahead of possible midweek debut
Leeds United broke their transfer record to sign the £40million goalkeeper last week.
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca admits he would have been happy to keep James Trafford but a desire to play regularly led to his Leeds United transfer.
Leeds confirmed the signing of Trafford for a club-record £40million plus add-ons on Thursday. The goalkeeper signed a five-year contract at Elland Road and is expected to properly join up with his new teammates on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s pre-season friendly against Manchester United.
The 23-year-old returned to City last summer with the belief he would become former manager Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper. But a chance to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma later in the window was taken and Trafford dropped to back-up, playing just 17 games across all competitions.
"There are players that unfortunately, like James last year, didn’t play a lot,” Maresca told the Manchester Evening News. “At the end [of the day] they work every day to get minutes and to play games.
“When they don’t play it’s normal that they are sad and want to play more games and that was probably the case with James. The club was happy with him, everyone was happy with him, but at the end he was probably looking for more games."
When quizzed on the future of forward Omar Marmoush, the City boss went into a little more detail: "The answer has to be similar to the one I answer about James Trafford. Players work every day, they want to play so when they don't play they are not happy.
“Omar did not play a lot last year so his desire is probably to play more minutes. It doesn't mean that he isn't going to play more minutes here but it's also his decision, and he needs to decide."
Trafford was not involved in Saturday’s 2-0 pre-season win over RB Leipzig at Elland Road and is expected to join up with his new teammates on Tuesday. The club-record signing could be in line to make his debut on Wednesday when Leeds face Manchester United at Croke Park in Dublin.