Spanish club Girona, an affiliate of Manchester City, could be a prime destination for McAtee’s signature. Having secured a third-place finish in La Liga, Girona will play in the Champions League next season, a prospect that will surely attract both McAtee’s and Manchester City’s interest. However, Leicester City, managed by former City assistant Enzo Maresca, will also be vying for McAtee, hoping for a favor from his former colleague, Pep Guardiola. At this stage, it remains uncertain whether the England U21 international would prefer a move abroad or another season in the Premier League.
Journalist Alan Nixon has disclosed through his Patreon that Girona, a City Group team affiliated with Manchester City, is eager to capture McAtee on a loan basis this summer. The player’s desire to play in the Champions League is a major selling factor. After spending time on loan at Sheffield United, the attacking midfielder returned to Manchester. Maresca, the manager of the Foxes, saw enough in the 21-year-old to want to bring him to King Power Stadium. Nixon claims that a move to the La Liga team is highly appealing to both parties due to his demand for game time combined with European football.
Additionally, he says that McAtee chose to move to Brammall Lane over a summer transfer effort by Leicester to sign him. Though they’ll probably be fighting for survival, he thinks Leicester, like Girona, would be a great place for McAtee to make his debut. Particularly with the way the game is played these days, football managers always place a great importance on versatility. Given that he can line up as a right winger, a number ten, a classic central midfielder, or even a striker, McAtee undoubtedly brings something to the table in this regard.
Three goals and three assists in the Premier League last season may not seem impressive at first glance, but given that Sheffield United had one of the lowest top-flight point tallies, those numbers are quite respectable. McAtee’s 33 successful dribbles were bettered by only 9.3% of Premier League players in his position, and his 73 touches in the opposition box were surpassed by just 13.2% of top-flight players, according to FotMob. It will be interesting to see which option McAtee and Manchester City choose this summer. A progressive club like Girona could provide an exciting opportunity for the young Englishman to develop his skills and gain new experience.
Under normal conditions, it would also be simpler to monitor his progress if he were loaned to a Premier League team like Leicester City. Girona is a Manchester City affiliate, so even if Spain is his summer destination, they should be able to have the same kind of input and understanding.
