With Donnarumma possibly heading to England, Wayne Girard argues that joining Manchester City would be a deserved – and probably the best – move for the Italian goalkeeper.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is now 25 years old and is already ingrained as one of Italy’s best keepers of all time. That says quite a lot for a country that birthed Dino Zoff, Francesco Toldo, Enrico Albertosi, and of course, Gianluigi Buffon. Now with speculation that he could be joining Manchester City to replace Ederson, Gigi has earned the chance to play for one of the greatest club teams in recent history.
He’s been the backbone of Italy since taking the reins from his idol, with which he shares the same first name, who demanded to be a full-fledged professional while still a teenager. Now, he’s won Ligue 1 every season since joining Paris Saint-Germain, on top of a slew of individual awards and honours.
It just felt like he deserved so much more this summer. The keeper who saved two spot kicks to win Italy the previous Euro, who had three clean sheets in the group stage, saved a penalty to deny Spain in the semi-final and was then named Player of the Tournament by UEFA (the first time for a keeper). What a disappointment EURO 2024 was.
Flashback to the Italian’s first season in Paris and PSG were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16. After leading by two goals, he allowed a Karim Benzema hat trick for Los Blancos to win 3-2 on aggregate. With tension peaking, he got into a bust-up with Neymar, requiring the two of them to be separated by their teammates. The media dramatised the event, hurting the then 21-year-old’s psyche.
PSG were eliminated in the same round once again the following year. It is a travesty when considering the amount of cash ownership invested in the team and their true goal since Qatar Sports Investments’ takeover. Bayern Munich won both legs to make it 3-0 on aggregate. PSG had an overall poor showing, and Eric Choupo-Moting had little difficulty putting it past Donnarumma to cancel out any ideas of a second-leg comeback.
Recall that just a few short months ago, PSG looked destined to reach the final for the second time in four years after getting a ‘fortunate’ draw with Borussia Dortmund. Perhaps overconfidence played a role, as they crashed out once again, failing to score a single goal over the two legs. However, the worst moment of the tournament this past year came not in the semi-final but in the quarter-final against Barcelona. Donnarumma was voted worst on the pitch by respected French newspaper L’equipe with a dismal 3 rating. He was criticised for a poor read on Yamine Lamal’s cross to allow Barca’s first goal, then gave the ball away in the build-up to allow Raphina to score, and then failed to read the third goal off of a corner kick.
Back to Euro 2024. As Guglielmo Vicario has risen greatly over the last three seasons, many fans across social media felt that the Tottenham keeper should be getting the nod over Gigio, keeping those PSG mistakes in mind. However, when the Ligue 1 giants were rumoured to be signing Matbey Safonov for the first spot a day before Italy’s Euro 2024 debut against Albania, Luciano Spalletti was the first to have his back, stating: “My opinion is that if Donnarumma is released from PSG, he will go on to find a stronger team.”
It wasn’t the first time either. A year ago, Spalletti also defended him after receiving boos in Italy’s 2-1 win over Ukraine – which was played at the San Siro: “As for everything that is said and written about him, it is the nature of the goalkeeping position that always gets a lot of blame… In addition, in his specific case, we cannot forgive him for being a prodigy who skips the steps, who has this talent, who has so many qualities.”
Donnarumma was ultimately rewarded with the captain’s armband for the Azzurri and shone as the team’s north star during the latest Euros. Being handed this responsibility by one of the most respected and experienced managers in Italian football is one more testament towards the shot-stopper’s worth. Spalletti’s boys failed at the Round of 16, and would have crashed sooner if it hadn’t been for Gigio’s heroics in the group stage. The ex-Milan star has proved he can handle pressure on the world stage, and Manchester City would be wise to go all in on him.
Donnarumma is a national treasure who is esteemed by his teammates and managers alike. He’s led his club and country to glory at such tender ages. It would be a joy for him and every fan of Italian football to see him play for one of the most dominant teams that this sport has seen in quite some time. He’s earned it.
Dominate?
Dominate what?
The category “own goals” or the category “howlers”?
one of Best of all time lmao clearly written by a Dollarumma fanboy
My only fear about Donnarumma is “footwork” and inability to build conveniently build from back which is the hallmark of City’s and Pep’s footballing philosophy. Aside this, Donnarumma will be a huge success at City.
He will be a great fit for a club facing 115 charges and could be relegated into oblivion. He should definitely head to Man City and play in 4th tier of English football.
How do you not mention Walter Zenga as one of the greats?
His is contributions to club and country warrant acknowledgment and praise, particularly at the most recent and prior Euros, but I still get “acido” when I watch him distribute the ball from the back.
Look at the so- called Tifosi of the Nazionale trolling the best GK in the world currently.
Shame to you! VERGOGNA!
Tifosi you people are NOT!