Italian media reveals brutal message from Gianluigi Donnarumma to referee Maurizio Mariani in Real Madrid defeat | OneFootball

Gianluigi Donnarumma had words for fellow Italian, Maurizio Mariani at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night following the penalty awarded in Real Madrid’s favour.

The confrontation occurred during a catastrophic night for Manchester City in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash, as Federico Valverde stunned the visitors with a 22-minute hat-trick.

The second-half did not bring about much more hope either, as Gianluigi Donnarumma was judged to have brought down Vinícius Júnior in the penalty area, leading to a heated exchange between the goalkeeper and the on-field match official.

While the 27-year-old goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving the subsequent spot-kick from the Brazilian forward, his frustration with the officiating has remained a focal point of the post-match analysis in his home country.

Decoding Donnarumma’s Clash with Mariani

As per a new report from TuttoSport, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, words from Gianluigi Donnarumma to Italian referee Maurizio Mariani at the Bernabeu have been revealed in the moments that followed the goalkeeper’s foul to give away a penalty.

“Why are you acting like a big shot? You’re acting like a big shot,” Donnarumma is claimed to have told his fellow countryman.

“Why are you giving me a yellow card”, the Manchester City goalkeeper followed having been cautioned for the attempt at clawing the ball from the onrushing Vinicius Junior.

The “big shot” comment suggests a deep-rooted frustration with Mariani’s handling of the high-octane fixture in the Spanish capital, with Donnarumma’s outburst perhaps highlighting the psychological toll of the 3-0 deficit.

Manchester City’s tactical gamble to play an ultra-high line against the Spanish giants left their No.1 goalkeeper exposed to several one-on-one situations throughout the night, ultimately leading to numerous goals conceded.

How Can Manchester City Respond to Defeat in Madrid?

Looking ahead to the return leg at the Etihad Stadium on March 17, Gianluigi Donnarumma will need to channel his apparent aggression more effectively to help Manchester City overturn the significant three-goal margin.

Before then, Manchester City have a clash against West Ham United to contend with in the Premier League, travelling to the London Stadium on Saturday night as they aim to stay within reach of Arsenal at the top of the division.