Gianluigi Donnarumma has revealed he would have preferred to remain at Paris Saint-Germain before completing a surprise transfer to Manchester City this month. The 26-year-old goalkeeper confirmed his feelings in an interview with AFP shortly after winning the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards.
When asked if he would have liked to stay at PSG, Donnarumma replied, “yes.” He explained that leaving was not easy after spending so much time at the club and building close relationships. “When you have shared a lot with people and spent a lot of time and made friends, it’s difficult (to leave),” he admitted.
Why Did Donnarumma Leave PSG?
PSG allowed Donnarumma to depart after signing French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier earlier in the summer. The Italian then secured a five-year deal with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a transfer worth £26 million ($35 million). Despite admitting he would have preferred to stay, Donnarumma praised his new environment. He described City as “an extraordinary club with extraordinary players, and they welcomed me like a family, and that is very important for me.”
How Did Donnarumma React to Winning the Yashin Trophy?
At the awards ceremony, Donnarumma credited his PSG teammates for his success in their Champions League-winning season. “This is wonderful, congratulations to the whole team, without them I wouldn’t be here, it was the whole team,” he said. This marks the second time he has lifted the prestigious award, having first won it in 2021 after Italy’s triumph at the European Championship.
By Yockshard Enyendi
