Gianluigi Donnarumma has shed more light on the surprising Donnarumma Man City transfer saga, claiming he learned of the Premier League club’s interest as early as before this summer’s Club World Cup.
The Italian goalkeeper had entered the final year of his contract in Paris shortly after winning the Champions League in May. However, after contract negotiations stalled over PSG’s new wage policy, manager Luis Enrique deemed his No. 1 surplus to requirements, allowing City to strike a bargain £26 million ($35.5m) deal.
“Before the summer, I already knew that City were very interested in me,” Donnarumma revealed at a press conference ahead of his first Champions League appearance for his new club.
“Then the relationship strengthened after the Club World Cup. I learned that the coach was pushing for my arrival here, and this made me very proud. That’s also why I didn’t hesitate to accept coming here with great joy and enthusiasm.”
“My desire was to come here, it was my first and only option,” Donnarumma insisted, despite reported interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.
When asked about his former club, PSG, he reluctantly commented: “I don’t like to talk about the past. People make their own choices, and that’s part of football. I wish my former teammates the best because they deserve it.”
Man City’s new No. 1 shut out Man Utd on debut.