Pep Guardiola is never afraid of making big decisions and right now at Manchester City another tough call might be on his table. The defeat against Tottenham Hotspur has opened new conversations inside the Etihad dressing room and one player, a new signing, could already be on his way out of the club. It is not the kind of story City fans expected to hear this early in the season but football is always full of drama and sometimes the truth is harsh. James Trafford, the young goalkeeper who returned to City this summer, is now facing questions about his future just a few weeks after rejoining the club. Pep Guardiola has shown over the years that he will not hesitate to be ruthless when he feels the team is at risk and the noise around Trafford’s future is already getting louder.
James Trafford was supposed to be a fairytale story. He left Carlisle United as a teenager to join City’s academy, he went on different loans to build his confidence, and he eventually became one of the brightest young goalkeepers in England. At Bolton Wanderers he became a fan favourite, at Burnley he turned into one of the stars of the Championship, and for England’s Under-21 side he wrote his name in history by helping them win the European Championship with unbelievable saves. Many believed Trafford was ready to challenge for the number one shirt at a big Premier League club. Newcastle United wanted him badly this summer, they were ready to build him as their future, but City shocked everybody when they swooped in to bring him back for £27 million. Fans thought Pep was planning for the future, preparing for life after Ederson, but nobody thought the fairytale could crash this quickly.
His debut was positive. He played in City’s 4-0 win at Wolves and kept a clean sheet. Everything looked bright. But football can be cruel, and the next match changed the story. Against Tottenham Hotspur he had a nightmare moment when he failed to deal with Joao Palhinha’s shot that gave Spurs the lead. City ended up losing 2-0 and that single mistake has now opened the door to questions about whether Trafford is truly ready for the responsibility that comes with wearing the gloves at Manchester City. When you play under Pep Guardiola mistakes are never forgotten easily, especially when the team is already under pressure. Ederson is set to leave, the club is in talks with Galatasaray, and City are also chasing Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG. That means Guardiola has to decide quickly whether Trafford can be trusted or whether he needs to be moved out before the pressure destroys his confidence completely.
The rumours are already running wild. Reports from Turkey say that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Manchester United legend who is now in charge of Besiktas, wants Trafford to be his new number one. Solskjaer has been rebuilding the Turkish side this summer and he believes Trafford has the quality to dominate in the Super Lig. According to the reports, Trafford’s agent has already travelled to Istanbul to begin talks with Besiktas’ president. The plan is to take Trafford on loan, no option to buy, just a straight move that allows him to play regular football and rebuild his confidence. From the outside it looks like a lifeline, but for City fans it feels like a betrayal of the dream they had when the young goalkeeper was brought back just weeks ago.
This is where Guardiola’s ruthlessness comes in. Pep does not look at sentiment. He does not look at what people expect or what stories sound nice. He only looks at what will help Manchester City win. He has done it before with Joe Hart when he first arrived in England. Hart was the England number one, loved by City fans, but Pep decided he was not good enough for the style of play he wanted. Within weeks Hart was gone. He has done it with Leroy Sane, with Raheem Sterling, with Gabriel Jesus, with Aymeric Laporte. No matter how big the name or how much history the player had with the club, Guardiola always puts the team ahead of personal relationships. Trafford is just 22 and has a lot of years ahead of him, but if Pep believes he is not ready for the pressure of the Etihad he will not waste time. He will ship him out.
The timing is brutal for Trafford because he was coming off the best year of his career. At Burnley he conceded just 16 goals across 46 games in the Championship, an unbelievable record that helped them get automatic promotion with 100 points. He was celebrated as the next big English goalkeeper. That success made Newcastle chase him, made Burnley fans cry when he left, and made City pay £27 million to bring him back. But life at Manchester City is different. At Burnley a goalkeeper can make mistakes and fans will forgive him, at City every mistake is replayed around the world and every critic will jump on it. Trafford now finds himself standing on the edge of a cliff. If Guardiola decides to bring in Donnarumma and let him go to Besiktas, his dream of being City’s number one could disappear before it even started.
There is also the bigger picture at City. Guardiola is not only making decisions about Trafford, he is rebuilding the whole team. He has already overseen the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, he is managing the possible exits of Ederson and Kyle Walker, and he is trying to bring in Rodrygo from Real Madrid to freshen up the attack. He has been honest that the squad is too big and that he needs to cut it down. Trafford could simply be a victim of this bigger plan. For Guardiola, having Donnarumma as the main goalkeeper and Stefan Ortega as backup could be safer than gambling on Trafford’s development. It might sound ruthless but this is how Guardiola works, and this is why he has been so successful.
City fans are divided. Some believe Trafford should be given time. They see his talent, they see his history with the club, and they believe he deserves patience. They remember how shaky Ederson was in his first months and how he grew into one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Others think City cannot afford to wait. They argue that in a season where Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are all strong, one or two goalkeeper mistakes could cost them the Premier League title. For these fans, bringing in Donnarumma is the safer move and loaning Trafford out is the only way forward. Football can be cruel, and Trafford now finds himself caught in the middle of this debate.
Solskjaer, on the other hand, sees an opportunity. He knows Trafford well from his time in English football and he believes giving him the main role at Besiktas could unlock his full potential. Besiktas have already strengthened their midfield and attack, but the goalkeeper spot is still open. Solskjaer wants someone young, brave and ready to grow with the team. Trafford fits that perfectly. If the deal goes through, Trafford could become the number one at one of Turkey’s biggest clubs, playing in front of passionate fans, in European competitions, and away from the spotlight of the Premier League. It could be the best environment for him to learn, but it also feels like a step down after just signing for the English champions.
For Pep Guardiola, the story is simple. If he believes Trafford cannot help him win right now, he will not hesitate to move him on. He has said many times that every player in his squad must feel like they can play and contribute. If Trafford is going to be stuck on the bench, Guardiola will see no point in keeping him. Sending him to Besiktas could be the cleanest solution, and if Donnarumma arrives it will become even clearer. This is what makes Pep Guardiola both respected and feared. His loyalty is to the club’s success, not to individual careers.
The future of James Trafford is hanging in the balance. From Carlisle to City’s academy, from Bolton to Burnley, from England Under-21 hero to a £27 million signing, his journey has been inspiring. But now after just one mistake against Spurs, he finds himself facing the possibility of leaving again. Football is like that. One moment you are the future, the next moment you are the past. If Pep Guardiola decides he is not ready, Trafford’s story at Manchester City could be over before it even began. Fans will remember this as another example of Pep’s ruthless standards, but also as a reminder of how unforgiving life can be at the very top of football.
For now, we wait. Will Guardiola keep faith in Trafford and give him time to grow? Or will he sanction the ruthless exit and allow Besiktas, under Solskjaer, to take him away? Whatever happens, this story is proof that at Manchester City there is no time for fairy tales. Only results matter, and Guardiola will always choose winning over waiting.
