Hugo Viana sanctioned the permanent departure of James McAtee to Nottingham Forest last summer.
The 24-year-old started his senior career with City in 2021 and was on two consecutive season-long loans to Sheffield United for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns.
He then parted ways with his boyhood club to join Nottingham Forest in August 2025 on a five-year contract for a reported total fee of about £30 million.
Recent reports suggested that Manchester City could be interested in bringing McAtee back to the Etihad Stadium, especially considering that his deal includes a buy-back clause.
McAtee left Manchester City after registering seven goals in 34 appearances across all competitions.
The midfielder made his debut for Nottingham Forest in their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on August 24, 2025, and concluded the previous campaign with three goal contributions in 26 games.
The Englishman is coming into his own in the ongoing season and has started in all eight matches in the top flight so far, as compared to his two league starts in his debut campaign for the Reds.
The summer transfer window saw former Forest star Elliot Anderson join Manchester City as a club-record signing, leaving a void in head coach Oliver Glasner's midfield.
McAtee, however, appears to have filled the gap in their midfield, effectively replacing Anderson's role by striking a strong partnership with Xaver Schlager, who arrived at the City Ground from RB Leipzig in July.
Journalist Pete O'Rourke has dismissed rumours of a possible Manchester City-McAtee reunion, mentioning that the club are 'not yet keen on exercising their option to re-sign the player'.
Speaking recently on the Transfer Insider podcast, O'Rourke highlighted that the City graduate, whose contract at Forest is valid until the summer of 2030, is becoming a key player in Glasner's squad, especially following Anderson's departure.
"I would be very surprised if it was on the cards," O'Rourke said. "Obviously, McAtee's having a good season, I don't think his talent has ever been in doubt, it's just that he didn't get many opportunities last season at Forest.
"He is becoming a key man under Oliver Glasner's, especially since Elliot Anderson's departure. He's also under a long-term contract, so yeah, I don't think there's anything much in that one that McAtee could be moving back to City."
Manchester City , meanwhile, have also made several high-profile midfield additions in the summer, which makes a potential return of their academy graduate unlikely, at least in the near future.
Enzo Maresca and co will host Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, while McAtee and Forest will be facing Brentford next in the top-flight this weekend.
