Gianluigi Donnarumma reveals truth on Paris Saint-Germain fallout and £26M Manchester City transfer | OneFootball

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has given an insight into his public fallout with former employers Paris Saint-Germain this summer that culminated in a deadline day switch to the Etihad Stadium.

Donnarumma, who led PSG to their premier UEFA Champions League title in May, penned a five-year contract with Manchester City on the final day of the recent transfer window, undergoing a medical in Florence, Italy whist on international duty.

The 26-year-old was keen to extend his stay in Paris and held a desire of improved wages on his latest deal at the Parc des Princes as he entered the final 12 months of his final contract with the Ligue 1 giants.

However, a reluctant on the PSG board’s part to match Donnarumma’s salary expectations and Luis Enrique’s public declaration that the AC Milan graduate is no longer part of his plans saw Donnarumma confirm his departure from the Parc des Princes in a social media statement.

Manchester City pounced on an opportunity deemed by club officials as too good to turn down as they quickly agreed personal terms with Donnarumma’s representatives and secured his arrival on deadline day, with Ederson joining Fenerbahce for £12.1 million.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League opener with Napoli this week, Donnarumma gave some interesting insight into his parting of ways with Paris Saint-Germain just months after leading his former club to European glory.

“I don’t really like to talk about the past. Some people make their own decisions, choices, it’s part of football. Everybody makes their own decisions and choices,” the goalkeeper said.

“Now I’m here (at City), I’m happy and I’m very proud – and I wish my old teammates the best because they deserve it. I’ve got a great relationship with them, they’ve always shown me affection even when they knew I was leaving; for me, that was a very big thing, very important – to know I’d left something important to my ex-teammates. This makes my proud as well.

“But I can’t talk about other choice. Now I’m here, I’m at Manchester City – in a huge club with so much history and a club that really wants to win and surprise everyone, and I’m sure that myself and my teammates will do everything we can to take Manchester City higher and higher.”

Donnarumma impressed on his Manchester City and Premier League debut on Sunday as a brace from Erling Haaland and a header from Phil Foden secured a 3-0 derby win for the Blues over local rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

On his desire to join Manchester City amid interest from a range of elite sides across Europe, Donnarumma added: “Before the summer, I knew that Manchester City were very interested in me and then the relationship strengthened after the Club World Cup.

“And I knew that the coach was pushing for my arrival here, everybody wanted me here so that really spurred me on, it gave me such pride to see such a demonstration of affection from them.

“So I didn’t hesitate to come here with great joy and enthusiasm, and I really hope to give my all for Manchester City; for this badge because such history here and the club wants to win, always has done. In its history, it’s always won, always tried to win; so I’m here for that, to give my maximum and take this badge as high as possible!

“I was very clear; my desire was to come here. That was my first and only option, the only thing I wanted. And so I’m not going to talk about the future, but my only choice was to come here, the only one.

“So I’m happy to be here, happy to be here at Manchester City – happy to be a part of this fantastic team, a fantastic family, and give so much to these colours, to this badge, and I really hope to do it for many years!”