Manchester City supporters divided as Tijjani Reijnders exit rumours gather pace
Manchester City supporters rarely agree on transfer decisions, but the latest reports surrounding Tijjani Reijnders have produced one of the most divided debates of the summer.
According to reports, Nottingham Forest have identified the Dutch international as a major transfer target. The midfielder is said to be open to the move, while Manchester City are believed to value him at around £60 million.
Although nothing has been agreed, the speculation alone has sparked thousands of reactions across social media. A City Xtra post discussing the report quickly became the centre of a heated conversation among Manchester City supporters.
Some fans believe selling Reijnders after just one season would be the right business decision.
Others argue that writing him off so quickly would be a mistake.
The discussion perfectly reflects the pressure placed on every signing at Manchester City. Expectations are enormous, and supporters expect immediate impact from players arriving for significant transfer fees.
Under new head coach Enzo Maresca, City are entering a new era following Pep Guardiola’s departure in June 2026. That naturally means every player will be judged differently as Maresca reshapes the squad to suit his tactical vision.
The Reijnders debate may therefore be about far more than one player.
It is also about what Manchester City’s future midfield should look like.
Why Nottingham Forest are interested in Reijnders
Reports suggest Nottingham Forest view Reijnders as an ambitious signing capable of becoming the heartbeat of their midfield.
The Dutch international possesses qualities that remain highly valued across Europe.
He is technically secure.
He carries the ball confidently through midfield.
He has excellent stamina.
He presses aggressively.
His passing range allows teams to transition quickly.
Those attributes explain why interest exists despite an inconsistent spell at Manchester City.
For Forest, signing a player with experience at one of Europe’s biggest clubs would represent a statement of intent.
For City, however, the question is whether allowing him to leave after only one campaign would represent good business or poor planning.
That uncertainty is exactly what supporters have been debating online.
“Please sell” – Many Manchester City fans believe the club should cash in
One section of the fanbase wasted little time making their opinion known.
The reactions were brutally honest.
Several supporters openly welcomed the possibility of Reijnders leaving.
One fan simply wrote:
“Please sell.”
Another added:
“Music to my ears.”
Others were even more direct.
“Yeah sell him he’s mid.”
“Yeah he couldn’t cut it.”
“Yessss…please leave man.”
Those comments reflect frustration from supporters who expected considerably more from a midfielder brought in with high expectations.
Many fans feel Reijnders never truly established himself despite receiving opportunities throughout the season.
Instead of becoming an automatic starter, he often struggled to convince supporters that he could dominate matches consistently.
At Manchester City, consistency is everything.
Anything less quickly leads to questions about a player’s long-term future.
Some supporters already have replacements in mind
Interestingly, several reactions focused less on Reijnders himself and more on who Manchester City should sign instead.
One recurring suggestion was Ibrahim Maza.
Multiple supporters immediately linked the possible sale with reinvesting the money elsewhere.
One fan wrote:
“YES! Then go and buy Ibrahim Maza.”
Another echoed the same opinion.
“Sell him and bring me Maza.”
Those comments demonstrate how modern football discussions rarely stop at outgoing transfers.
Supporters instantly begin imagining how funds could strengthen other areas of the squad.
Whether Manchester City actually have interest in Maza remains another discussion entirely.
But among supporters, the idea clearly generated excitement.
Some fans believe £60 million is too cheap
While many supporters accepted the possibility of selling Reijnders, not everyone agreed with Manchester City’s reported valuation.
Several argued that £60 million undervalues the midfielder.
One supporter questioned the figure directly.
“Only £60m!!!”
Another demanded significantly more.
“£75m upward.”
Those reactions suggest some fans separate a player’s performances from his market value.
Even if they would accept his departure, they believe Manchester City should maximise every transfer opportunity.
That philosophy has become increasingly common among supporters.
With transfer fees continuing to rise across Europe, many fans expect elite clubs to negotiate aggressively.
Selling below perceived market value often attracts as much criticism as keeping an underperforming player.
Not everyone wants Reijnders to leave
Despite the large number of supporters calling for a sale, another group defended the Dutch midfielder.
Some questioned whether supporters had become too impatient.
One particularly thoughtful reaction asked:
“So we now give up on players after one season?”
That comment quickly resonated with supporters who believe football has become increasingly reactionary.
Every player experiences adjustment periods.
Moving clubs.
Changing leagues.
Learning new tactical systems.
Adapting to new teammates.
Those challenges should not be ignored.
For some fans, judging Reijnders after only one campaign feels premature.
Calls for patience under Enzo Maresca
Supporters advocating patience also pointed toward Manchester City’s managerial change.
Pep Guardiola’s departure marked the end of one of football’s greatest eras.
Now Enzo Maresca has the opportunity to reshape the team according to his own philosophy.
That inevitably changes evaluations of certain players.
Football history is full of examples where footballers struggled under one coach before flourishing under another.
Different tactical instructions can completely transform confidence and performances.
Some supporters therefore believe Reijnders deserves the chance to work under Maresca before any final decision is made.
Selling immediately could eventually prove to be a costly mistake if he develops into the player City originally believed they were signing.
“No chance this happens”
Not every reaction focused on the player’s ability.
Some supporters questioned whether the transfer would happen at all.
One fan confidently wrote:
“0 chance of this happening.”
That reflects another common feature of transfer windows.
Supporters often remain sceptical until official confirmation arrives.
Rumours appear every day throughout the summer.
Only a fraction eventually become reality.
Until negotiations progress significantly, many City supporters appear unwilling to believe Reijnders is genuinely heading towards the exit.
Comparing Reijnders with other midfielders
One particularly interesting reaction highlighted another issue entirely.
A supporter wrote:
“Sell Reijnders keep Kovacic confused club.”
Although brief, the comment captures frustration regarding squad planning.
Some fans believe different midfielders should be prioritised for departure.
Others believe Reijnders should stay while alternative options leave instead.
These debates underline how interconnected transfer decisions become.
Selling one midfielder affects depth.
It changes tactical flexibility.
It influences future recruitment.
Supporters therefore naturally compare every possible departure with the rest of the squad.
Has Reijnders really failed?
Perhaps the biggest question emerging from the discussion is whether Reijnders genuinely failed at Manchester City.
The answer depends largely on expectations.
If supporters expected him to become one of City’s dominant midfielders immediately, then disappointment is understandable.
If the expectation was gradual development, opinions naturally become more forgiving.
Modern football often leaves little room for patience.
Transfer fees create enormous pressure.
Social media accelerates judgments.
Players can move from exciting signing to transfer candidate remarkably quickly.
Reijnders now appears to be experiencing exactly that reality.
Why Manchester City’s midfield remains under scrutiny
Manchester City’s midfield has been one of the biggest talking points throughout the summer.
Every possible arrival and departure receives enormous attention.
That is understandable.
Midfield has traditionally been the engine of City’s success.
Supporters know that controlling possession remains central to competing for major trophies.
If Maresca wants to implement his preferred style successfully, midfield recruitment will likely be decisive.
Consequently, every rumour involving Reijnders naturally generates intense debate.
Fans understand that one departure could lead directly to another arrival.
Social media reactions reveal growing impatience
The City Xtra replies also highlight another trend.
Supporters appear increasingly impatient with players who fail to deliver immediate excellence.
Several years ago, footballers often received multiple seasons to settle.
Today, many fans expect instant performances.
That shift reflects the standards Manchester City have established.
Winning major trophies consistently changes expectations.
Supporters no longer celebrate potential.
They demand production.
Players therefore face intense scrutiny from the moment they arrive.
Reijnders is far from the first player to experience those expectations.
He certainly will not be the last.
Could Nottingham Forest offer the perfect fresh start?
If the reports eventually become reality, Nottingham Forest could represent an attractive opportunity for Reijnders.
Regular playing time would almost certainly increase.
He could become a central figure rather than competing within one of Europe’s deepest squads.
Sometimes players simply require a different environment.
Football history repeatedly demonstrates that careers can be revived through well-timed transfers.
Leaving Manchester City would not automatically represent failure.
Instead, it could become the move that allows Reijnders to rediscover his very best football.
What should Manchester City do?
From City’s perspective, several factors must influence any decision.
First comes Maresca’s assessment.
If the new head coach believes Reijnders fits his tactical philosophy, keeping him makes obvious sense.
Second comes financial value.
If Nottingham Forest meet City’s valuation or exceed it, executives must determine whether reinvesting elsewhere improves the squad.
Finally comes squad depth.
Manchester City compete across multiple competitions every season.
Allowing experienced midfielders to leave without adequate replacements would carry significant risk.
These considerations make the decision far more complicated than social media reactions might suggest.
Fan opinion remains split
Looking across the responses, several themes emerge.
The largest group appears happy to sell.
Another believes patience remains essential.
A third questions the reported transfer fee.
A fourth doubts the transfer will happen at all.
That diversity of opinion reflects the complexity surrounding Reijnders’ future.
Supporters may disagree about the solution, but they agree on one point.
Manchester City’s midfield decisions this summer will shape the club’s chances of success under Enzo Maresca.
Final thoughts
The reaction to Tijjani Reijnders’ reported Nottingham Forest interest demonstrates exactly why Manchester City’s transfer business always attracts enormous attention.
Supporters have already formed strong opinions.
Some believe selling him would represent smart business.
Others fear the club could abandon a talented player before he has received a genuine opportunity to flourish.
The truth will likely depend on Maresca’s evaluation behind closed doors.
Only the new manager truly knows whether Reijnders fits his long-term plans.
Until then, speculation will continue.
So will the debate among Manchester City supporters.
Whether Reijnders stays to fight for his place or departs for a fresh challenge, one thing is certain.
The discussion surrounding his future has revealed a fanbase demanding excellence while remaining deeply divided over how best to achieve it.
