Pep Guardiola issues public plea to midfield star to stay at Manchester City for “many, many years”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a public plea to James McAtee to remain at the Etihad Stadium for “many, many years” over the weekend.

The England youth international once again impressed onlookers via another substitute appearance in Premier League action for Manchester City, this time offering a top-flight first goal for the reigning Champions.

The latest outing for McAtee followed a bright cameo appearance against Leicester City prior to the turn of the year, playing an instrumental role in a second goal for his side that would secure all three points on the road.

The Manchester City Academy graduate then went on to light up the FA Cup, as he scored three times at the Etihad Stadium to dismiss of League Two outfit Salford City as part of an 8-0 victory for Pep Guardiola’s players.

And McAtee continued that bright form into his latest opportunity to impress, leaving his manager with a very clear message for the Salford-born playmaker when it comes to his future in football.

Speaking after Manchester City’s 0-6 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road, Pep Guardiola was keen to pile on the praise for James McAtee, who rounded off the scoring on the road with his first Premier League goal for the club.

“Wow! Such a good footballer, lovely guy,” Guardiola said of the Manchester City Academy graduate during his post-match media duties. “He has quite similar qualities to Phil (Foden), sense of goal.”

Guardiola continued, “It’s not easy with not much minutes for confidence but he has personality… Hopefully we can keep him for many, many years!”

The City boss also praised Foden, who scored a second consecutive brace for Manchester City, “The biggest quality of Phil is around the box he has the goal in his blood, in his bones, in his mind.

“It’s, ‘I’m going to score!’ It’s not easy to find! That’s why always I try to put him in central positions because he has a specific quality.”

With City’s fixtures intensifying in terms of difficulty and standard of opposition over the next few weeks and months, it remains to be seen just how much game-time James McAtee will be able to see, particularly with the added complication of Omar Marmoush’s imminent arrival.

No doubt a number of clubs will remain active on the case of McAtee this month, particularly if City show a willingness to let the player leave on a temporary deal to secure game-time, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund known admirers.