Guardiola Closes the Door on Donnarumma
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has closed the door on the possibility of signing Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, following his club’s decision to put him up for sale this summer. This comes amid the decline in form of Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, who is wanted by Galatasaray.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper, James Trafford, participated in Manchester City’s first Premier League match of the season, a 4-0 victory against Wolverhampton.
In this regard, Guardiola said in statements reported by the British newspaper “Mirror”: “I can only say positive things about Donnarumma. He is undoubtedly one of the best players in his position, and even better personally. But we were looking for a goalkeeper with different qualities and characteristics.”
Guardiola’s statements are similar to those made by his compatriot, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique, when asked the day before the UEFA Super Cup final against Tottenham about the reasons for excluding Donnarumma from the squad.
Enrique said at the time, “Excluding Donnarumma from the squad is 100% my decision. Donnarumma is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and he’s even better on a human level, but I need a goalkeeper with different qualities.”
The Italian international was close to leaving Paris Saint-Germain after failing to reach a financial agreement to renew his contract, while the Champions League winners signed former Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
Football Italia reported that Manchester City wanted Donnarumma but were unwilling to meet Paris’s £40 million financial demand.
