“He struggled to maintain concentration” – Mental coach details Gianluigi Donnarumma’s Paris Saint-Germain struggles | OneFootball

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s resurgence at Manchester City has been strengthened by personal resilience, with his former mental coach revealing the psychological challenges he faced in recent years.

Since joining Manchester City, the Italian goalkeeper has had an excellent season, helping Pep Guardiola’s team in key moments across a transitional year at the Etihad Stadium after Hugo Viana replaced Txiki Begiristain as sporting director in 2025.

Donnarumma‘s performances in England have altered the narrative about his career, which had been marked by occasions of criticism and controversy despite his consistent success at the highest level for AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain in the first decade of his professional career.

His most recent significant success was with PSG, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League trophy last season. However, his relationship with the French giants deteriorated over a contract dispute in the months after the Ligue 1 side’s European success – and as a result, Donnarumma joined Manchester City on the final day of the 2025 summer transfer window.

Why did Gianluigi Donnarumma face criticism in Milan after joining Paris Saint-Germain?

The 27-year-old’s move to the Etihad Stadium gave him a chance to rebuild momentum in a system that is known for being challenging for goalkeepers, with Ederson leaving for Fenerbahce on the same day as Donnarumma’s Manchester City move was confirmed.

Donnarumma also faced a lot of difficulties in the early years of his career. He was a big talent at AC Milan but when he chose not to renew his contract to leave his boyhood club for free, he faced a lot of criticism in Italy.

Many AC Milan fans saw the decision as a betrayal and the Italy international has since been booed every time he returned back to the San Siro after that incident.

The psychological weight of that reaction was significant. According to mental performance coach Nicoletta Romanazzi, who worked with the goalkeeper during his time in Paris, maintaining concentration and managing external pressure became critical aspects of his development.

What mental challenges did the Manchester City goalkeeper overcome in France?

Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Romanazzi described the challenges Donnarumma faced in maintaining focus in high-pressure situations.

“Gigio Donnarumma approached me at Paris Saint-Germain,” Romanazzi said, as translated by Calciomercato and related by Sport Witness. “With a team of champions always attacking, he struggled to maintain high concentration when the opponents managed to get into his penalty area.

“I helped him manage the pressure because for the fans, a goal is always the goalkeeper’s fault. And to maintain high concentration.”

Romanazzi also revealed that part of their work together involved addressing the emotional impact of criticism from Milan supporters.

How has Gianluigi Donnarumma grown as a person and player over the years?

“We also worked on the AC Milan fans, especially in view of the first match between PSG and AC Milan,” she added. “He accepted that the fans felt betrayed, even if he hadn’t left the team with that intention and he too had suffered.”

It seems like those experiences helped Donnarumma grow as a player and a leader. In the last few months, the Italian has made several important saves for Manchester City, combining his usual shot-stopping skills with improved composure in possession.

That change has been important for Guardiola‘s team. The Spanish manager’s tactical system requires goalkeepers to be involved in build-up play while also being able to make important decisions and interventions under pressure.

Donnarumma’s ability to adapt to those needs has slowly put to rest earlier concerns about whether he was right for that kind of system.

How well has Gianluigi Donnarumma adapted to life in England?

As the season continues, his contributions to City’s campaign have become increasingly essential. His key saves and consistent performances have kept the team in the running in all the competitions, making him one of the most important players in the team.

Donnarumma’s journey demonstrates how complicated life can be for top athletes, where performance and perception often change simultaneously.

After dealing with criticism, excessive expectations, and high-profile moves, the Italian goalkeeper seems to have found stability at the Etihad Stadium, where his resilience and talent continue to shape Manchester City’s objectives.