Premier League footballer slammed after ‘ruining 10-year-old child’s birthday’ by REFUSING to hand him his shirt – giving a brutal eleven-word reason for doing so

A Premier League star has been accused of ‘ruining’ a young boy’s birthday after making a sudden U-turn on his decision to hand over his shirt due to a bizarre reason.

The incident took place following Manchester City’s vital 3-1 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night. 

Fans waited outside the gates of the Etihad after the match and there was excitement as young English midfielder James McAtee drove out and rolled down his window while holding his match shirt.

McAtee then pointed in the direction of one child and told a steward to take the shirt over to him before quickly changing his mind.

The former Sheffield United loanee had noticed the 10-year-old, named Oaklan, was wearing a coat with the badge of the Blades’ rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

‘Oh no, he’s got a Sheffield Wednesday top on. I hate Sheffield Wednesday, he said before driving off’ 

The City man was about to give his shirt to a steward to give to the child before making a U-turn

And the boy’s mother Chantelle Howard has taken to social media to slam McAtee for his actions.

‘Imagine travelling all that way, braving the freezing cold after watching a Champions League game, just for your little football-mad 10-year-old to have his birthday night ruined,’ Howard wrote on Facebook.

‘James McAtee had the chance to make a birthday unforgettable – he handed out his shirt, and you should have seen the pure joy on the kids’ faces! 

‘But then, when it came to Oaklan, he changed his mind… all because of a Sheffield Wednesday badge on his coat. Never mind that he was head-to-toe in Man City gear, having spent all his birthday money in the club shop that night.

‘Kids look up to their idols, whether they support a local team or one of the biggest in the world. 

‘Not everyone can get to the Etihad every week, but that doesn’t make them any less of a fan. Moments like these shape how young supporters see the game – and their heroes. It’s a shame when football forgets what really matters.’

Bayer Leverkusen have held talks with City over a deal for James McAtee, who returned to City in the summer after two seasons on loan at Sheffield United.

The Bundesliga side had pinpointed McAtee as their number one target to replace Martin Terrier who has suffered an Achilles tendon rupture.

The 10-year-old’s mother Chantelle Howard took to social media to express her anger 

McAtee rejoined City in the summer after two seasons on loan at Sheffield United 

Coach Xabi Alonso is a confirmed admirer, having been made aware of McAtee’s emergence at City and the 22-year-old’s lack of regular starting opportunities.

Mail Sport reported earlier this month how a number of Bundesliga sides – including Dortmund, Mainz and Stuttgart – had registered interest in the highly-rated McAtee, and it is Leverkusen who have stepped to the fore by holding high-level conversations with City.

Leverkusen believe the England U21 international is keen to take up the challenge to join them with the prospect of regular game time in the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.

Pep Guardiola has admitted regularly that he wants McAtee to stay but has struggled to give him the opportunities he deserves. Those opportunities could be further limited by the signing of Omar Marmoush from Frankfurt and the fact out-of-sorts Jack Grealish seems unlikely to leave this window.

City have been keen to keep their squad intact to give Guardiola a fighting chance of resurrecting their season but Leverkusen’s talks with Villa over a loan for Buendia would hint that they are still to be convinced the Premier League champions will let McAtee leave without a fight.

McAtee, who has scored five goals this season, also has interest from several Premier League sides. He has just 18 months remaining on his current contract at the Etihad Stadium.