Man City admit defeat in three-way battle as star sold to Premier League rival

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Manchester City have allowed Stefan Ortega to leave the club with the goalkeeper heading to Nottingham Forest on a permanent deal after falling down the pecking order.

Ortega had served deputy to Ederson for several years but a goalkeeping reshuffle in the summer effectively left him as third choice. Ederson left for Turkey but James Trafford was signed as the club's new No.1 - before Gianluigi Donnarumma then joined and usurped him.

That effectively relegated Ortega to third choice and he's been unable to get any opportunities, which prompted his desire to leave. He'll head to the City Ground, where he can fight to be the first choice shotstopper.

Ortega's opportunities in Manchester had previously come in cup competitions or when Ederson found himself injured. It did lead to one of his most iconic moments with the German producing a one-on-one save to deny Son Heung-min in a game City had to win to claim the Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola said after those exploits: “He saves us – otherwise Arsenal are champions. That is the reality. The margins are so tight. The save from Son. It was incredible. One-on-one, Stefan is one of the best keepers I’ve seen in my life. It’s the German culture – stand up, don’t go down.”

City are having to manage a difficult situation even with Ortega gone. Trafford moved back to Manchester from Burnley in the summer with hopes of pushing his England claims at one of the country's elite sides. He started the first three games before the club signed Italian Donnarumma from PSG deadline day.

Since then the Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament has been the main man and that has left Trafford having to wait until cup competitions to get his moments in between the sticks, leading to talk of an exit.

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"He reacted really well [to the signing of Donnarumma]," said Guardiola. "No complaints and James is a top keeper - no doubts about that. I understand the situation. Goalkeepers are special - it is one or the other, not like other positions where you can play someone else."

When quizzed on the prospect of Trafford being allowed to leave in January, Guardiola replied: "No. I would like him to stay for many, many years. But the situation of the keeper is special and we will see what happens."

Trafford turned down the chance to move to Newcastle in the summer, and they moved on by signing Aaron Ramsdale .

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