James McAtee reportedly held talks with former Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca over a move to Leicester City prior to his latest loan switch to Sheffield United.
The midfielder recently secured another loan move to the Yorkshire club until the end of the season after spending the first few weeks of the campaign in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Prior to this move being made official, some behind-the-scenes details emerged regarding another move the 20-year-old could have made away from the Manchester club this summer.
McAtee spoke to Maresca about Leicester move
A recent post in The Telegraph’s live transfer news updater had this to say on the matter.
It said: “McAtee, 20, is understood to have had held talks with Enzo Maresca at Leicester on Thursday and was very tempted by the prospect of playing under Pep Guardiola’s former No 2 in the Championship next season. But the opportunity to test himself at the highest level ultimately swung the decision Sheffield United’s way.”
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Back in June, Maresca was appointed as Leicester’s new manager after being a part of Guardiola’s coaching staff.
With McAtee only playing one minute of action for City this season across all competitions, this is a sign that he isn’t at the top of Guardiola’s pecking order and that a move away could be the best next move for him.
Having made 26 appearances for the Italian when he was City’s U23 manager, scoring eight goals and delivering 12 assists in the process, it’s easy to see why Maresca was interested in seeing if he could convince the midfielder to join the Foxes on loan this summer.
However, given his previous experience with the Blades, where he scored nine goals and supplied three assists in 37 Championship appearances with them last season during his previous loan spell, and the fact that he can help them out in the Premier League this season, it’s understandable why he’s gone back to Bramall Lane.