Pep Guardiola pays tribute to Gianluigi Donnarumma after 2025 Yashin Trophy win | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has paid tribute to Gianluigi Donnarumma after the Italy international was awarded the 2025 Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday evening.

Donnarumma received the prestigious award felicitating the best goalkeeping in the world for the second time in his career this week, with the 26-year-old’s former Paris Saint-Germain teammate succeeding Rodri as the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner.

City secured the arrival of Donnarumma for £26 million on the final day of a whirlwind transfer window, with the Italian falling out publicly with the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy and manager Luis Enrique just months after spearheading the French giants to a historic treble and their premier UEFA Champions League title.

Enrique replaced Donnarumma – who was deemed surplus to requirements – with Lucas Chevalier from Lille after a contract dispute between the now Manchester City star and PSG, who were unwilling to match the AC Milan graduate’s salary demands to renew his contract at the Parc des Princes beyond 2026.

Donnarumma released a statement on social media confirming a parting of ways with Paris Saint-Germain as clubs across Europe were alerted to the possibility of signing the 26-year-old on the cheap in the final weeks of the transfer window.

Manchester United expressed an interest in the former PSG man but the prospect of joining forces with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium and regularly fighting for major trophies was enough to convince Donnarumma to snub United and land in the blue side of Manchester.

The shotstopper signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium on deadline day whilst on duty with the Italy National Team in Florence, only travelling to England in the days leading to City’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United last week – when Donnarumma marked his Manchester City and Premier League debut(s) with a clean sheet.

Speaking to the press ahead of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup third-round trip to Huddersfield this week, Guardiola congratulated Donnarumma for his Yashin Trophy award and hailed the Italian’s impact early into his career at the Etihad Stadium.

“Congratulations to him (Donnarumma), PSG of course as well! It’s what he has done in Paris,” Guardiola said as he paid tribute to his deadline day signing.

“But yeah, the impact has been really great. Always when we have him (Donnarumma), we’re happy that he can be satisfied. Finishing ninth or sixth or 12th, or as much as you are there, close, it means you have done a really, really good season.

“And I have the feeling that Gigi (Donnarumma), every season he’s there, close, as a good keeper. Today it looks so important the individual awards, but all the nominees, all the winners; well done, well played, and congratulations!”

Having warmed the bench since Donnarumma’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City academy graduate James Trafford – who resigned for the Blues for £27 million from Burnley in July and started each of their first three Premier League games – is set to start against Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup in mid-week.