Morgan Rogers’ stance on potential Manchester City return revealed amid Etihad Stadium transfer links | OneFootball

Rumours of Manchester City transfer interest in former Academy star Morgan Rogers have been shut down by a new report centred around the player’s feeling on a return.

Rogers has been one of the breakout talents in the Premier League so far this season having joined Aston Villa on a permanent deal from Middlesbrough, and off the back of numerous loan moves away from the Etihad Stadium.

Having joined Pep Guardiola’s side and the wider club’s academy system from West Bromwich Albion in 2019, the now-22 year-old enjoyed varying amounts of success in temporary spells at Lincoln City, Bournemouth, and Blackpool, before joining Middlesbrough in 2023.

Taking on his senior England debut in November, Rogers’ success at both club and country level further heightened this week as he scored away at Paris Saint-Germain for Aston Villa in the quarter-final first-leg meeting between the two sides in the Champions League.

And as such given the meteoric rise of Morgan Rogers in an Aston Villa shirt, coupled with Manchester City’s evident need for fresh energy in the centre of the park, it is no surprise to see Etihad bosses tied to interest in bringing the player back to the club.

But according to a new report from Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Aston Villa are ‘confident’ of keeping star attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers this summer despite potential interest from Manchester City.

It is claimed that despite reports suggesting the Premier League champions could ignite an interest in the Englishman, Rogers would be ‘hesitant’ to move back to the Etihad Stadium after previously struggling to secure a first-team breakthrough into Pep Guardiola’s side.

The report further quotes sources who firmly state that Rogers is ‘happy’ with life at Villa Park after signing a long-term contract with Unai Emery’s side running until June 2030 towards the end of last year.

Speaking in March on his time at Manchester City and why perhaps he did not make the cut under Pep Guardiola, despite his staggering form across competitions at the very top of the game this season, Rogers gave a very simple reason.

“I wasn’t good enough, simple as that. I wasn’t ready, I wasn’t ready to be there, I wasn’t myself, I wasn’t the person that they signed in terms of what they expected me to go on and be,” the player told ITV. “It wasn’t the right player at the right time for me or the club.”

On struggling to break into City’s senior side and the reasons behind that, Rogers continued, “Adaptation, I think.

“I struggled, I’d never experienced anything different, in a football sense before then – and struggled to be me in a kind of ‘All Stars’ team at that age group to fit in and show my quality within that – which I found very difficult being able to be me in a structured team that we had.

“At West Brom, it was more that I could be me and just play my game, whereas at City, I was surrounded by everyone playing for their countries – whether it be England or different players we had. Having to adapt, I found that really difficult and really struggled.”