Manchester City fans go crazy on social media after Gianluigi Donnarumma celebration | OneFootball

Gianluigi Donnarumma enjoyed his first day at the office as Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

A fortnight after the 26-year-old’s £26 million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, Donnarumma was thrown straight into the mix by Guardiola and the Italy international’s classy debut display has only furthered an argument that he will be the steal of the summer transfer window.

With James Trafford dropped to the bench in the first of a tricky trio of games over seven days against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal – Donnarumma was named in a Manchester City starting XI that also featured the returning pair of Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol from injury.

After damaging defeats to Tottenham and Brighton in their recent pair of Premier League games before the international break, Guardiola’s men were determined to get the three points on Sunday and put in a statement performance against Ruben Amorim’s side, who claimed an injury-time winner in the fixture a year ago.

And so they did, right from the off. Erling Haaland came close to breaking the deadlock less than 20 seconds after kick-off, with the Blues taking the lead eventually as Phil Foden headed in from Jeremy Doku’s cross after 18 minutes.

United responded with their best spell of the game but Donnarumma’s quality showed as the AC Milan signing thwarted everything that came his way and helped City protect a slim advantage into half-time.

However, Donnarumma’s best moment of the game arrived in the second-half when Manchester City were two to the good and were guarding their goal amid a flurry of Manchester United attacks.

Bryan Mbuemo produced a fine volleyed effort from a cross-field ball directed towards the right side of the 18-yard box, which seemed destined to hit the back of the net but Donnarumma came up with a world-class right hand to save and push the ball away for a corner.

Manchester City fans have been buzzing on social media since Donnarumma’s arrival on deadline day, with many inspired by the addition of a world-class goalkeeper with a view that long-serving Ederson – who joined Fenerbahce for £12.1 million on deadline day – was much better with his feet than with his hands.

Donnarumma’s debut kept getting better and better and Manchester City fans were given a throwback to the days of Emmanuel Adebayor when their new Italian shotstopper performed an exquisite knee-slide in front of the travelling Manchester United fans after Erling Haaland’s second and Manchester City’s third goal of the evening.

Not many first-team stars have enjoyed better Manchester City or Premier League debuts and as City navigate a sliding doors period after a big revamp of their squad in the summer, Donnarumma’s addition will prove significant as the season progresses for a new-look group that needs as many leaders in the dressing room as it can get.

Guardiola will be delighted with Donnarumma’s influence and ahead of crucial UEFA Champions League and Premier League games against Napoli and Arsenal, one wouldn’t fault the Manchester City manager to stick to his guns and retain Donnarumma in net over young James Trafford, who started each of City’s opening three Premier League games.