The Saga of the Aging Goalkeeper Trio…
Deep within the blue oceans of Manchester City, a trio of elder goalkeeping superheroes is holding the fort like wizened, creaky dragons atop a pile of football loot. Ederson, the wise leader, is about to hit the fabulous 32 junction, Stefan Ortega’s riding the wave to an illustrious 33, and Marcus Bettinelli—already 33—is perched like a gargoyle keeping watch. It’s like the Fantastic Three with more gloves and less time! They have the experience of Gandalf but question marks loom over their future like a confused seagull over the Etihad on a matchday.
Ederson’s exit was almost penciled into the sky last summer, but he cha-cha’d back to the squad for another season of heart-stopping goalkeeping shimmy. Ortega, meanwhile, is contemplating a pilgrimage to become Numero Uno elsewhere. With the third slot occupied by Bettinelli, City’s bench is practically a Three Musketeers club that’s looking more youthful with every wind of change. Rumblings from the clouds hint at transfers, with young goalkeeping prodigy James Trafford being the hot prospect. He’s like a budding sunflower waiting to blossom on Newcastle’s rainy fields!
Eyebrows are arching skyward as City fans wonder if Trafford is the golden ticket hidden in their backyard. A ÂŁ40 million buy-back sounds like pocket change in City coin for a keeper who could attempt to teleport Ederson off his perch! But this tale may well script Trafford’s destiny at Newcastle, with ties severed like a pimpled ball on a barbed wire fence. Either he becomes the Geordie Great (not to be confused with the Gadget), or City will see him playing musical chairs for England, leaving them to ponder if they’ve let a real gem slip through their fingers!
