Man City has become more solid since acquiring Donnarumma.

20/10/2025 11:52:00 esportapi

Man City is enjoying an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, with Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival playing a crucial role in restoring their status.

In the summer of 2025, Man City shocked many by letting go of Ederson—the key goalkeeper in their build-up play from the back—transferring him to Fenerbahce for £12 million. Donnarumma was brought in as his successor after PSG excluded him from their future plans because coach Luis Enrique favored a goalkeeper with better foot skills. Donnarumma signed a five-year deal (with an option for one more year) and earns €15 million annually, the highest wage for a goalkeeper in the Premier League. This signing brought high hopes but also some skepticism.

While Ederson stood out with over 90% passing accuracy, Donnarumma was ranked 87th in passes among the top five European leagues last season. Nonetheless, Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League is evolving toward a high-press, fast-attack style, requiring a goalkeeper with excellent reflexes like Donnarumma.

Donnarumma debuted in the Manchester derby on September 14, 2025, keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory against Man United. He made two remarkable saves, including an incredible parry from Bryan Mbeumo’s shot, which Alan Shearer hailed as "world-class." As of October 19, 2025, Donnarumma has appeared in seven Premier League and Champions League matches, recording four clean sheets and conceding only four goals, helping Man City remain unbeaten (five wins, two draws). According to stats, he saved at least six goals more than expected, leading the Premier League in this category.

Donnarumma’s key strength is his command over the penalty area and aerial ball handling. In the Emirates match against Arsenal, he confidently punched away corners, neutralizing threats from Calafiori and Gabriel. Gary Neville dubbed him a "beast in goal," while Peter Schmeichel likened him to Manuel Neuer at his prime.

Before Donnarumma’s arrival, Man City struggled early in the season, losing two of their first three games and conceding many goals due to defensive frailty, especially with Rodri injured. Ederson was skilled in ball distribution but weak in set-piece situations. Donnarumma changed that by instilling confidence in the defense with his leadership and aerial prowess. Since he started playing, City have conceded only two goals in five Premier League matches, compared to five goals in the first three games. Guardiola adjusted tactics by dropping the defensive line and emphasizing midfield pressing to fully utilize Donnarumma’s shot-stopping abilities. Man City’s defense now plays with greater confidence thanks to the Italian keeper’s reliability.

However, Donnarumma still needs to improve his footwork to fully adapt to Pep’s philosophy. He admitted he would "try to improve" after discussions with the coach. Some opinions suggest his slower ball distribution could make City vulnerable to pressing, but this has not significantly impacted the team’s overall results.

M.Vũ

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