Ronald Matarrita to train with Manchester City

Numerous reports out of Costa Rica name Ronald Matarrita as the latest NYCFC player to train with Manchester City.

Around this time last year, five New York City players made the trip to the northwest of England to do the same: Kwadwo Poku, Patrick Mullins, Tony Taylor, Tommy McNamara, and RJ Allen.

Though Matarrita doesn’t figure to be in Manchester terribly long, he’s been left off of Oscar Ramirez’s Costa Rica roster for the upcoming Copa Centroamericana.

Given reported interest in Mata from a number of top-flight clubs in Europe, including Bundesliga sides Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV, the Manchester jaunt has spawned rumors that head Citizen Pep Guardiola might be keen to swoop in for the player himself. We have no reason to believe that such a move is in the cards— not only do MCFC sport two duly-tenured left fullbacks in Alexander Kolarov and Gael Clichy; former New York City loanee Angelino figures to have a bright future at the Etihad Stadium.

(Angelino, currently on loan in his native Spain at Girona, just turned 20. Matarrita is 22.)

Another reason to believe that Mata’s offseason trip isn’t anything more than that? His former club, LD Alajeulense, are still owners of one half of the value of his professional contract, and would thus receive half of any transfer fee paid for the player. Though NYCFC have made attempts to buy out the Costa Rican club’s share of the contract, no deal has been announced up to this point.

So, we say again for posterity: HE’S OURS! YOU CAN’T HAVE HIM!