Editorial – Donnarumma, the latest chapter in a PSG side unable to move on | OneFootball

Gianluigi Donnarumma (26 years old) has been left out of the Parisian squad for the UEFA Super Cup. Chelsea and Manchester United, already on the lookout, dream of bringing him to the Premier League. But beyond a simple transfer, this break-up highlights a chronic weakness at Paris Saint-Germain: the difficulty of cleanly parting ways with its major figures. Long attracted by the Premier League, the Italian goalkeeper could leave Paris as early as this summer or next. The scene has become familiar at Paris Saint-Germain: a key player sidelined, an inevitable departure, and carefully crafted communication that fails to hide the tensions. Gianluigi Donnarumma is living his final hours in Paris, in a break-up reminiscent of many others at the Parc.

A Departure Announced, a Break-up Assumed

Luis Enrique has not hidden it: Lucas Chevalier is now his number one. By leaving Gianluigi Donnarumma out of the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham, the Spanish coach is sending a clear message. The Italian, European champion in 2021 and recruited as the goalkeeper of the future, is no longer part of the sporting project.

A brutal but clear-sighted exclusion, which opens the door to a swift departure. Chelsea and Manchester United are ready, aware that the player is attracted by the idea of discovering the Premier League.

The Parisian Syndrome of Botched Goodbyes

At PSG, history repeats itself. Cavani, Thiago Silva, Neymar, Verratti, Navas, Mbappé… all have experienced awkward end-of-cycle departures, often marked more by discomfort and bitterness than by sincere tribute. The club, too often torn between sentimental attachment and sporting realities, has developed the habit of prolonging stories beyond reason.

With Donnarumma, the axe falls more quickly, but the shadow of this past still weighs on how the departure will be managed. He joins this list, proof that Paris still struggles to combine sporting recognition with effective management.

Complicated Management Between Huge Salaries and XXL Demands

The problem is not just emotional. Paris has often found itself trapped by oversized contracts. Players settled on XXL salaries, reluctant to accept a pay cut to leave elsewhere, have slowed down squad renewal.

Added to this are the contractual demands of certain key players, willing to negotiate until the last second to secure extensions on maximum terms. In this context, offloading a player at the right time becomes a delicate, if not impossible, exercise.

Chelsea and United Ready to Seize the Opportunity

With Chevalier established in goal, PSG has the chance to turn the page quickly. Chelsea and Manchester United are closely monitoring the situation and know they can offer Donnarumma a number one role in the Premier League.

But Paris will have to see its logic through: make it official quickly, negotiate firmly, and avoid falling back into its usual trap of letting cases drag on until they lose value.

The Biggest Botched Break-ups at PSG in Recent Years.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.