James McAtee Prioritises U21 Euro Game Time Over Man City’s Club World Cup Journey

James McAtee emphasised that his desire for playing time influenced his decision to represent England at the Euros rather than participating in Manchester City’s Club World Cup campaign. The 22-year-old is gearing up to captain the young Lions in their tournament opener against the Czech Republic this Thursday.

Having made 15 Premier League appearances and netted three goals for City last season, McAtee travels to Slovakia as England’s new captain following the unfortunate injury to Taylor Harwood-Bellis, which necessitated knee surgery for the Southampton defender.

He expressed that being named captain is a privilege, though he acknowledged that he will also draw on the leadership qualities of other players within the squad.

Speaking at the DAC Stadium in Dunajska Streda, McAtee remarked on his new position with England, stating: “Being captain of the under-21 squad is a real honour. Taylor will certainly be missed, but it’s a privilege to be in this role.

“We have a number of leaders in the team. We hold discussions throughout the day. I’m focused on improving my character and leadership abilities. Players like Harvey (Elliott), Tino (Livramento), and Crezzy (Charlie Cresswell) have valuable experience from the last tournament.”

McAtee’s choice to join the England squad instead of participating with Manchester City in the Club World Cup contrasts with two of his teammates, Liam Delap and Jobe Bellingham, who are heading to the States with new clubs Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.

For McAtee, it was a straightforward decision.

He explained: “The primary factor was my desire for game time and my significance to the squad. I’ve never participated in an international tournament, so I was eager to be here.

“At the start of this season, one of my goals was to qualify for the Euros with the group, and I wanted to see that through.

“I had a brief chat with Manchester City about my choice. It wasn’t lengthy; it was just a simple conversation outlining what I wanted, and it was as easy as that.”