Manchester City
Trafford accepts backup role after late Donnarumma arrival unsettled City plans
Trafford accepts a backup role at City after Donnarumma joined; he will take each day as it comes…
James Trafford has acknowledged that his move to Manchester City last summer did not lead to the starting role he expected. He signed for the club with the impression of a fresh opportunity, only for Gianluigi Donnarumma to become available less than three weeks later. Donnarumma joined City for £26 million on Sept. 1 and has established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper since, leaving Trafford as Pep Guardiola’s cup keeper.
The 23-year-old, speaking after his 11th appearance of the season in Saturday’s 2–0 win over Salford, was measured about the turn of events. “I didn’t expect the situation to happen, but it happened, so just get on with it,” he said. Trafford made clear he had not been guaranteed the starting spot and admitted the reality differed from his hopes. “[The plan] wasn’t what happened,” he said. “It is what it is. It’s football, it is what it is, you’ve got to keep grafting every day and the games that come, play as hard as you can. It’s just another experience to add to my career and yeah, it has been good learning.”
“I don’t know what happens next season,” Trafford reflected. “I just know that I’ll just take it a day at a time and try and improve.”
Those comments sit against a wider context. After impressing at Burnley there were suggestions Trafford could be on the cusp of England recognition for this summer’s World Cup. The arrival of Donnarumma, however, has reduced the likelihood of Trafford displacing Everton’s Jordan Pickford for international selection and has left his club prospects in doubt.
Trafford was reportedly open to leaving City in January but was told by Guardiola he would be needed as cover for Donnarumma; third-choice Stefan Ortega left in the winter window. Clubs linked with interest for the future include Newcastle, although they must decide on Aaron Ramsdale’s option to buy, plus Aston Villa and West Ham United.
Trafford has insisted he received no assurances about a starting role, a point that removes any suggestion of legal wrongdoing and highlights how modern transfers can change quickly. At the time of his transfer Donnarumma was not available, only to become a late option that City felt compelled to take. It is a harsh outcome for Trafford, but one the club judged necessary as they strengthened their squad.
Manchester City
David Silva Ends Retirement With a Goal in Hong Kong Appearance
Silva’s short comeback ended with a penalty goal, player of the match and a final farewell.
David Silva briefly stepped back into competitive football and marked the occasion with a goal, three years after retirement.
The four-time Premier League champion, forced out after an ACL injury, made his first competitive appearance since retiring in 2023 when he was selected against Hong Kong Rangers on Saturday. There was no sign of hesitation from the midfielder, who delivered the decisive moment in the 56th minute with a composed penalty.
His strike put Supreme Sha Tin ahead, although Hong Kong Rangers levelled 10 minutes later to leave the match locked at 1-1 by full-time. Silva completed 84 minutes and was named player of the match, finishing a brief return that was always intended to be a one-off.
Supreme Sha Tin remain 10th in the Hong Kong Premier League after collecting five points from their opening seven fixtures. For Silva, though, the result was secondary to the chance to finish on his own terms.
His career had already been defined long before Saturday. After making his name at Celta Vigo and Valencia, he joined Manchester City in 2010 and spent a decade there, producing 436 appearances, 77 goals and 136 assists. He later returned to Spain with Real Sociedad before the knee injury brought his playing days to an end.
After the match, Silva reflected on the support he received by posting: “Thank you Hong Kong for the love you have always given me,”
That message also carried the tone of a farewell. Having already said he would feature only once for Supreme Sha Tin, Silva has now completed that final outing and gone back into retirement after finding the net one last time.
Leeds United
Trafford Explains City Exit as Donnarumma Fit Comes Under Scrutiny
Trafford says leaving Manchester City was vital for his wellbeing, while Donnarumma’s fit is questioned.
James Trafford has opened up on the reasons he felt compelled to leave Manchester City, saying the lack of regular football took a serious toll on him. Now at Leeds United, the 24-year-old has described last season as a difficult period after making only four Premier League appearances.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Trafford was candid about the emotional strain of being confined to the bench. He said it was “horrendous” to be forced to watch from the sidelines, and explained how he leaned on family and friends just to cope with the situation.
“You are ringing a lot of people and just venting,” he explained. “Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up.
“I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates. I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all. It’s quite funny.
“I had to play regularly this season for my own mental wellbeing. You just lose yourself not playing. Maybe I’m different, I don’t know, but the feeling of not playing every week, it felt horrendous.
“I just had to play every week this season for that mental feel-good and to keep progressing with my career and edging me closer to achieving the dreams I want to achieve.”
Trafford’s departure has also revived discussion around Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose form and suitability have been questioned amid several high-profile mistakes. The concerns have centred on whether he is the right fit for Enzo Maresca’s tactical approach, particularly given that footwork has long been viewed as one of his weaker areas.
Trafford, by contrast, is seen as a goalkeeper comfortable on the ball and better suited to a possession-based system. Maresca recently offered a measured assessment of Donnarumma, saying, “He’s quite relaxed in terms of he recognizes that he has made some mistakes, but at the same time he has also made some good saves,” he said recently. “It’s just a matter of balance. Try to avoid mistakes and continue to do the right things.”
There had also been suggestions that City looked more secure defensively in cup matches when Trafford played, but the continued backing of Donnarumma left him with no route to stay in the summer. The club instead chose to keep faith with the Italian as they attempted to build towards a Premier League title push.
Manchester City
Manchester City face calls for further scrutiny after guilty verdict
Manchester City’s appeal continues as calls grow for more scrutiny over possible breaches beyond 2018.
Manchester City’s legal troubles may not stop with the 114 charges already found against them for Premier League financial breaches. According to The Independent, some English soccer executives now want the club examined for possible offences beyond 2018, raising the prospect of fresh action.
City maintain their innocence and have already launched an official appeal against the sweeping guilty verdict. That appeal means any sanctions are currently on hold, but the range of possible punishment remains severe, from heavy fines and transfer bans to a points deduction and even Premier League expulsion.
The latest report centres on a simple question: “What changed overnight?” It points to the club’s commercial income staying at the same level in the years after the investigation period ended, despite the scrutiny only covering conduct up to 2018. The Independent also says the club’s relationship with their Abu Dhabi-based “sponsors” did not change, which has fuelled suspicion that further breaches may exist beyond the original case.
If additional wrongdoing were uncovered, City could face more charges. There is also the possibility of title sanctions, with the club at risk of being stripped of trophies won during the years in question.
The scale of the issue is significant because City’s honours list spans both the period before 2018 and the years after it. They won three Premier League titles between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, then added five more, including four consecutive league triumphs from 2020-21 to 2023-24.
Not everyone wants another investigation, however. The Independent reports that some feel executives are “getting ahead of themselves”, especially as the original inquiry, which took three years, has still not been completed. Others argue that a fresh probe would only prolong a case many would rather see finally closed.
