James McAtee insists he has no regrets at choosing the Under-21 Euros over the Club World Cup after captaining England to Saturday night’s final.
McAtee spoke to Pep Guardiola and staff at Manchester City and made his case to go away with England, rather than form part of City’s squad in the United States for the Club World Cup, where they are now into the last-16.
Asked if making the final against Germany justified his decision, McAtee spoke with clarity and conviction in response.
‘I don’t regret my decision at all,’ he said.
‘I’m happy I’m here and my focus is here and not on the Club World Cup.’
Part of McAtee’s thinking was that England’s Under-21’s would give him a greater portion of game time in a summer where his club future is under scrutiny.
James McAtee said he does not regret opting to play at the U21 Euros over the Club World Cup
The Man City midfielder has starred for England, who face Germany in the final on Saturday
McAtee had to plead with Pep Guardiola to avoid his duties in the U.S and play for his country
Competition for City first team places is fierce, not helped by the midfield additions of Rayan Cherki Tijjani Reijnders this summer.
McAtee’s decision indicated that his future likely lies away from City this summer and he is not short of admirers.
Bundesliga teams who were keen to sign him in January remain in the frame this window.
Bayer Leverkusen, who continue to seek a replacement for Liverpool’s £116million summer signing Florian Wirtz, Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, Red Bull Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, who signed McAtee’s England team-mate Jobe Bellingham earlier this summer, have all expressed varying degrees of interest.
AC Milan, having sold Reijnders, admire McAtee while in England, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves, Everton, Leeds United, Manchester United, Fulham and Spurs have at one time this summer asked to be kept informed of developments.
