Donnarumma is so humble and hardworking, says Bettinelli | OneFootball

Marcus Bettinelli says he’s learning from working with Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Men's Team

Donnarumma: We’re eager to show we’re ready

The pair are the two senior goalkeepers on City’s ongoing pre-season tour of Asia, having both arrived at the club in the summer window of 2025.

Donnarumma is widely regarded as one of the best shot stoppers in the world and has an extensive trophy cabinet in both club and international football.

Bettinelli says he’s taken a lot from working closely with the Italian in the last year.

“We have a bit of a language barrier but his English is getting better all the time so we get on really well,” he said, explaining their relationship.

“He’s a fantastic goalkeeper who’s had a fantastic career so far. He’s won a lot of things but he’s still so humble and hard working.

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“That showed last season at times, we needed him in big moments in big games and he’s there for the team.

“It’s been great to watch and I’m taking so many attributes that he has and trying to work on them.”

As well as being the two goalkeepers with top level experience on the tour, they are also two of the leaders amongst the wider squad.

34-year-old Bettinelli says that’s a role he relishes.

“Whenever pre-season comes around, there’s always young lads on their first trip like this so it’s important we do what we can for them,” he said.

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“We’ve got two young goalkeepers with us too so that’s a fun new dynamic amongst our training.

“Whilst there’s still some big leaders away after the World Cup, it’s nice to be one of the older lads and play my role in that sense.”

Bettinelli joined City from Chelsea, where he played under our new boss Enzo Maresca and he’s enjoyed the start to life under the Italian.

“I was fortunate enough to work with Enzo for a season so I’m quite used to a lot of the stuff that he’s trying to do,” he said.

“He’s made some changes obviously and I think all the boys have adapted really well, taken it on board and they’re enjoying the sessions. We’re all looking forward to every session at the moment.”

Men's Team

City v Inter: Played for both

We played our first game of the tour on Saturday against Italian giants Inter and will play twice more – firstly against K-League All Stars on Wednesday and then Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Bettinelli is certain that facing high quality opposition at this stage can help sides hit the ground running come the start of the campaign in earnest.

“Whenever you face any teams like that, you always know they’ve got fantastic players,” he said.

“I think now there’s no such thing as pre-season friendlies because everyone’s hit the ground running and games like this put you in good stead for the start of the season.

“They’re really tough, we know we don’t have our full squad here but it’s always important to try and get off on a good footing.”

Watch our 2026 tour games on CITY+!

Subscribe to CITY+ now to see all three of City’s games during our 2026 pre-season tour of Asia.

After Saturday’s meeting with Inter, we’ll now head to Seoul to play a K League All-Stars side on Wednesday 5 August and then Atletico Madrid on Sunday 9 August. Both games begin at 12:00 (UK).

Each game will be available to watch on mancity.com and our official app for current CITY+ subscribers globally*.

Available for £34.99 annually or £9.99 per month, or unlock CITY+ as part of Premium Membership (£65/year), which brings together the best of City, in one membership.

*K-League All Stars v City: Globally available except South Korea 

City v Atletico Madrid: Globally available except South Korea, Spain 

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