Former AC Milan coach rejects Gianluigi Donnarumma criticism after Manchester City switch | OneFootball

Ex AC Milan boss Alfredo Magni has rubbished recent criticism of Gianluigi Donnarumma after the goalkeeper’s recent move to Manchester City.

Donnarumma completed a sensational £26 million move to the Etihad Stadium from Paris Saint-Germain on the final day of the summer transfer window, signing a five-year deal with Manchester City with the option of an additional year.

The 26-year-old’s prolonged contract dispute with former employers Paris Saint-Germain resulting in a parting of ways – just months on from Donnarumma spearheading the Parisiens to their maiden UEFA Champions League title.

Manchester City sanctioned a £12.5 million transfer for Ederson to Fenerbahce on deadline day, subsequently progressing their pursuit of Donnarumma and completing the seventh and final signing of their busy window.

City’s eleventh-hour acquisition of Donnarumma in a window wherein the club have recruited three new goalkeepers has raised questions over the prospects of academy graduate James Trafford moving forward.

Trafford, 22, has started each of Manchester City’s opening trio of Premier League games this season since returning to his boyhood club for £27 million in July after two seasons of regular first-team opportunities at Burnley.

The England U-21 international committed an error leading to a goal in a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium a weeks ago but either side of a performance he would like to forget, Trafford has impressed between the sticks for the Blues amidst a period of uncertainty over the future of Ederson, who has since moved on from Manchester.

Manchester City’s recruitment of Donnarumma – renowned as arguably the world’s best shotstopper – has come with criticism from some quarters, with many in the football world questioning if the Italian possesses the ball-playing ability to fit into Pep Guardiola’s style of play.

In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, former AC Milan head coach Alfredo Magni has passionately leapt to the defence of Donnarumma, whom he managed during a brief stint in charge of AC Milan when Donnarumma was coming through.

Magni said: “The thing that leaves me amazed is that Gianluigi (Donnarumma) has the aptitude to play that type of game, and the fact that Guardiola wants him confirms the thesis, doesn’t it?

“A player with a great aptitude for improvement like him (Donnarumma), obviously based on his talent, can quickly adapt his characteristics to the coach’s needs. I’m sorry if (PSG manager) Luis Enrique saw something in (Lucas) Chevalier that wasn’t within Gianluigi’s capabilities.

“Donnarumma can fulfil Luis Enrique’s requests. PSG let go of potentially the best goalkeeper in the world. It’s shocking that he’s being replaced by Chevalier, even if he’s a good goalkeeper.

“Let’s say (it will take) about three months through analytical and cognitive progressions with and without pressure, opponents, and finally situations with the ball.”