Italian media publish interview slating PSG for ‘stupid decision’ over Manchester City star | OneFootball

Former Napoli left-back Faouzi Ghoulam has criticised Paris Saint-Germain’s decision to exile and sell Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma before his transfer to Manchester City.

Manchester City completed the £26 million signing of Donnarumma on the final day of the summer transfer window, with the AC Milan academy graduate signing a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium with the option of an additional year.

Donnarumma entered the final year of his contract at the Parc des Princes after leading Paris Saint-Germain to their maiden UEFA Champions League title last term, with the club’s board reluctant to match the 26-year-old’s salary expectations during contract renewal talks.

Talks over a new deal hit an impasse as the summer progressed, with PSG boss Luis Enrique publicly declaring that Donnarumma is no longer part of his plans and the Parisiens signing Lucas Chevalier from Lille – to fit the mould of a goalkeeper who the club want to be better with his feet than Donnarumma.

Donnarumma’s public fallout with the Ligue 1 giants was viewed with interest at the Etihad Stadium, with Manchester City unsure over Ederson’s future at the club into the final weeks of the recent transfer window.

It was only on deadline day that Ederson was allowed to travel to Turkey and complete his desired switch to Galatasaray, with Manchester City reaching a full agreement with PSG over the signing of Donnarumma, who travelled with his new teammates for the first time this week after signing his City contract whilst on duty with the Italy National Team in Florence.

Speaking to Corriere dello Sport ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, which could see Donnarumma line up between the sticks for Pep Guardiola, former Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam has given his two cents on PSG’s decision to exile and offload Donnarumma this summer.

“PSG made a glaring mistake and disrespected Gigio (Donnarumma). They wanted to please Luis Enrique because he won, but you can’t do this to a totemic player, decisive for the victories themselves,” Ghoulam said, as relayed by Sport Witness.

“Gigio (Donnarumma) is among the two or three best goalkeepers in the world and will be among the top 10 for the Ballon d’Or, but what would have happened if Guardiola hadn’t arrived?

“Chevalier is very good (on the ball) but I wonder if Gigio (Donnarumma) hadn’t really been as good with his feet as people say, enough to make PSG change, would someone like Pep have signed him? This excuse makes no sense.

“I also live in Paris and I know stories and people. I know how much he was loved and respected by his teammates and the people. I can’t explain it because it’s an inexplicable choice. A stupid thing.”

It remains to be seen whether Donnarumma is thrown straight into the mix by Guardiola against Manchester United on Sunday, with tricky games against Napoli and Arsenal over the next seven days also giving the Catalan all the more reason to play to his strengths and call upon arguably Manchester City’s most significant signing of the summer.