James Trafford has admitted he didn’t anticipate Manchester Metropolis to signal Gianluigi Donnarumma after his switch from Burnley final summer season, with the deputy goalkeeper probably leaving this summer season.
Trafford returned to Metropolis after two years at Turf Moor on 31 July in a deal price £31m earlier than Pep Guardiola knowledgeable the membership govt that the supervisor additionally wished Donnarumma. The Italian joined on 2 September from Paris Saint-Germain for £26m and have become Guardiola’s first alternative.
Whereas Trafford began all of Metropolis’s opening three Premier League video games of the season in August, he has not finished so since within the competitors, along with his different eight appearances being within the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and the Champions League.
Trafford joined the membership aged 12 in 2015 and, after Metropolis’s 2-0 win over Salford within the FA Cup fourth spherical, he was requested about returning. “Yeah, it’s been good,” he mentioned. “I didn’t anticipate the state of affairs [with Donnarumma] to occur but it surely occurred, so simply get on with it. So it’s occurred so I work very arduous each day and see what occurs, give it my finest shot.”
Earlier than Donnarumma joined, Trafford was not knowledgeable he can be the No 1. “No, it wasn’t that,” he mentioned. “So it’s what it’s. It’s soccer, you’ve obtained to maintain grafting each day and the video games that come, play as arduous as you possibly can. That is simply one other expertise so as to add to my profession and it has been an excellent studying expertise.”
Whereas agreeing a five-year contract with an choice of an additional yr, Trafford is unsure if he’ll stay on the membership past the summer season. “Who is aware of, it’s soccer. Let’s take it a day at a time and attempt to work as arduous as I can and no matter occurs, occurs,” he mentioned. “I’ve clearly obtained a contract, so don’t know what occurs subsequent season. I simply know that I’ll simply take it a day at a time and attempt to enhance.”
Trafford was referred to as into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in November after Nick Pope dropped out, however has had no dialog with the supervisor relating to his prospects of going to the World Cup in June.
“No, clearly everybody is aware of what’s happening with me,” he mentioned. “So I’ve simply obtained to, each time I play, play in addition to I can. I haven’t spoken to them about if that’s sufficient, however I play in addition to I can and prepare each day very arduous and it’s simply right down to me.”
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