Exclusive: Gianluigi Donnarumma snubbed by former Man City goalkeeper to replicate iconic Premier League moment | OneFootball

Former Manchester City goalkeeper David James has revealed who he would choose to replicate his iconic moment in Premier League football in operating from striker.

James have revealed his thoughts on the tricky goalkeeping situation at the Etihad Stadium in an exclusive interview with City Xtra this week, sending some words of wisdom along the ways of James Trafford as well as Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

City take on Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon after seeing off Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League group-stage in midweek to maintain their fine start to the European campaign and stretch their unbeaten record in all competitions to eight games.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to start to net for Manchester City at Villa Park after keeping five clean sheets in his opening eight games since joining the Blues from Paris Saint-Germain in a £26 million deadline day transfer in September.

Donnarumma has quickly established himself as Manchester City’s first-choice goalkeeper since his arrival from France and former City and England shoptstopper James has revealed what he makes of Trafford’s precarious situation ahead of the 2026 January transfer window.

There remain question marks over what Donnarumma’s form means for Trafford’s prospects at the Etihad Stadium, with the 22-year-old failing to make a Premier League appearance for Manchester City since their 2-1 defeat away at Brighton at the end of August.

Guardiola vowed to give Trafford ample opportunities as the season progresses to stake his claim as Manchester City’s starting goalkeeper but evidence so far has been on the contrary as Donnarumma has quickly won the popularity contest in the goalkeeping department since landing in Manchester from Italy in September.

Much was made of Donnarumma’s supposed weakness on the ball when Manchester City were pursuing the signing of the Italy international and whilst the 26-year-old in by no means comparable to Ederson in that respect, there is an acceptance within the club that no Ederson replacement would be able to match the Brazilian in playing out from the back.

Speaking exclusively to City Xtra on behalf of AskGamblers, James has revealed who he would choose out of the Etihad Stadium’s current shot-stoppers to operate from striker if needed.

“I’m going to say James Trafford because (Gianluigi) Donnarumma – I’ve got to say this respectfully – I think Donnarumma is just a target man. It’s just, you know, he’s six foot seven,” James said.

“I think he’ll be the target man. (Stefan) Ortega, I think he would just sit in the midfield playing short, nice passes, but I think James (Trafford) has got a little bit more in the locker.”

Donnarumma will perhaps not mind James’ reasoning and would probably go as far as agreeing with the Englishman but Guardiola and his coaching staff will be delighted with Manchester City’s shrewd capture of the AC Milan graduate in what has been widely hailed as the best transfer of the recent window.