Italy captain Donnarumma ‘very clear’ about Man City transfer | OneFootball

Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma insists that joining Manchester City was his ‘first and only option’ over the summer: ‘The only thing I wanted.’

Donnarumma spoke to reporters on the eve of his Champions League debut for Manchester City against Napoli.

Donnarumma joined the Premier League giants on deadline day and already made his Premier League debut for City, winning 3-0 against city rivals Manchester United over the weekend.

Donnarumma ‘only wanted’ Manchester City transfer this summer

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City gives the team instructions during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“I thank the manager, to me it is an honour and a pride to be here and to have him as my coach. It is football history, so I am really excited to be here,” Donnarumma said on Wednesday via Manchester Evening News.

“I definitely still have a lot to improve and can give so much more; that is my objective: to keep improving and give my all for the team.

“I was very clear, my desire was to come here. That was my first and only option, the only thing I wanted.”

Donnarumma had less than a year left in his contract with PSG and joined Manchester City for circa €27m.

Donnarumma won the Champions League with PSG last season and is aiming for the same target at the Etihad Stadium this term.

“Definitely, it is one of the objectives we have. We have to always dream big, but do it with humility. We have to think match after match,” he said.

Donnarumma: Napoli a ‘huge team’

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City warms up prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“Tomorrow will be difficult; the first one in the Champions League is always the most complex one. We do it with a huge team against a huge team.

“I know Napoli very well, the city and the coach. Some of my national team-mates are there, so I know it is a great team we are playing against.”

FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at Artemio Franchi on September 13, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Donnarumma joined Pep Guardiola for today’s pre-match press conference.

The Manchester City boss said he was excited to meet Kevin De Bruyne again, just a few months after his exit and his free transfer to Napoli.

Antonio Conte and a Napoli player will hold a pre-match press conference in Manchester at 20:00 CT (19:00 BST) later today.