Gianluigi Donnarumma speaks about what made him join Manchester City | OneFootball

Gianluigi Donnarumma (26) says he “felt let down” by Paris Saint-Germain as he reflected on his unexpected summer departure and assured start to life at Manchester City, where he has already kept six clean sheets in 12 matches.

Speaking to Sky in Italy from City’s training ground, the 26-year-old opened up for the first time about the circumstances behind his move. Despite playing a decisive role in PSG’s historic Champions League triumph just months earlier, Donnarumma was placed on the market after the club opted for a stylistic shift in goal and signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille.

“It wasn’t easy leaving a club like PSG,” he said. “After what happened, I felt really bad. I adapted to a certain style, but in the final months that style wasn’t there anymore. After bringing the Champions League to Paris, it hurts. I felt disappointed with how the situation was managed.”

While the exit stung, Donnarumma insists he remains grateful. “Paris gave me a second home. I will always thank the club, my team-mates and the fans.”

His move to Manchester, however, came with a surprising assist. Donnarumma revealed that Erling Haaland actively pushed for his arrival. The pair struck up a friendship in previous meetings, and the Norwegian contacted him as City sought a new goalkeeper.

“He pushed hard for me to come here,” Donnarumma said. “He’s a great friend, and it’s a good thing I’m playing with him because facing him is impossible. He’s an alien.”

The Italian credits his seamless transition to the welcome he received from Pep Guardiola’s squad. “From the first training session, it felt like I had been here for two years,” he said. “The Premier League is intense, but this team has helped me adapt immediately.”

GFN | Finn Entwistle