Revealed: Enzo Maresca Tried to Sign Man City Academy Star As Leicester Manager

Revealed: Enzo Maresca Tried to Sign Man City Academy Star As Leicester Manager The man behind Man City's ongoing transfer strategy: Hugo Viana That concerned James McAtee - a player widely-regarded as being one of the most naturally-gifted talents to have emerged from Manchester City's Academy system over recent years. Having made his senior debut in September 2021 and Premier League debut in November, McAtee was handed his first professional loan move into the English Football League, joining Sheffield United in their promotion-winning campaign back into the Premier League during the 2022/23 season. And despite returning to City for pre-season and featuring in matchday squads during the start of the 2023/24 campaign, James McAtee returned to Bramall Lane for a second consecutive loan spell at the club - scoring his first English top-flight goal in December 2023 against Brentford in a 1-0 win. But it has now emerged that attempts were made by the current Manchester City manager to lure McAtee elsewhere in English football for that same season, all prior to his eventual £30 million move to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2025. Speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester City's visit to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening, Enzo Maresca has been quizzed on the continued rise of James McAtee - particularly during the ongoing season at the City Ground. "He's improving a lot! I think, James, we spent one season together here with the EDS (Elite Development Squad), then I tried to bring him with me at Leicester, but he preferred to stay with Sheffield [United]," explained Maresca. The Italian coach continued, "And, again, I'm not surprised [on his improvement at Nottingham Forest] because I know how good he is." With James McAtee seemingly playing in a slightly deeper role under Oliver Glasner at Forest, Enzo Maresca admitted, "He's playing deep also because they play a back-five, so they have extra players that can cover him. "Now, with a back-four, I don't know. But again, I'm not surprised because I know good is James." Manchester City fans will no doubt be delighted to hear of McAtee's growing role at the City Ground, having enjoyed his performances for their own first-team during the 2024/25 campaign under Pep Guardiola. McAtee scored his first goal for the club in a 0-4 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, before hitting his first senior hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Salford City in the FA Cup, and hitting his debut Premier League goal in a 0-6 win at Ipswich Town. Having returned to winning ways with a gritty performance in European action on Wednesday night, Enzo Maresca and Manchester City players will be wanting to transfer that form back into the Premier League. Having won all of their opening seven matches in the English top-flight this season - the best start from a club's new Premier League manager in the competition's history - City since lost their last two matches at the hands of Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion . The midweek trip to Leipzig saw an own goal from Castello Lukeba, a bullet header from Enzo Fernandez, and a fine piece of link-up play between Elliot Anderson and Erling Haaland resulting in the Norwegian's finish to claim all three points at the Red Bull Arena. After losing to Fabian Hurzeler's side at the Etihad Stadium via a narrow 0-1 scoreline last time out in the Premier League, the visit to Nottingham Forest's City Ground requires a victory to stay within touching distance of Arsenal , or even leapfrog the Gunners.