Gianluigi Donnarumma, captain of the Italian national team, attended a pre-World Cup Qualifiers press conference, discussing topics such as his recent feelings, his form, and Italy’s objectives.
On recent transfer developments
I’ve been a bit affected by what’s happened over the past few days, but I’ve been doing well overall. I can’t wait to join Manchester City—Pep Guardiola wanted me badly, and that makes me very flattered. Being so desired by one of the world’s strongest clubs only fills you with pride. I’m excited and happy.
Did Luis Enrique let you down? Can a coach say something like that?
I’ve always had a good relationship with the coach; he’s been straightforward since the first day of training camp. I don’t really feel let down—everyone has their own choices. The coach has the right to make decisions, but receiving support from everyone, especially my teammates, made me realize what
I’ve contributed to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)—and that’s what matters most. Because beyond football, what remains is this: feeling the affection from my teammates and the entire environment makes me proud of the mark I’ve left.
Would you give up anything to stay at PSG? What can Gattuso bring?
I’ve had an amazing time at PSG; these four years have made me feel at home, and I’ll never forget that. I worked with Gennaro Gattuso back when I was at Milan—I know what kind of person he is and what he can bring. I’m happy to work with him again; he’s had a strong start and is giving his all. We’ll do our best to bring Italy back to the top, but right now we need to take it step by step and build a strong team. We have a young and powerful squad that’s eager to grow and bring passion. I’m happy and believe we’ll take an important step forward.
In 2021, you became a PSG player while playing for the national team; now you’re joining Manchester City in a similar situation. How do you handle this? What was the most painful part?
Back then, I took the initiative to ask the president to let me sign the contract while I was with the national team—because it brought good luck… (laughs) I’m calm. When a club like Manchester City wants you so badly, it means you’ve done well before. Moreover, being desired by a top coach like Guardiola is an indescribable feeling. Disappointment? Not at all, because Luis Enrique was straightforward from the start, and that’s something I appreciated. Feeling the affection from my teammates and the PSG environment—that’s what truly excited me.
Is this the best year of your career? You might become the only Italian player to miss three World Cups—does that worry you?
I don’t think about that. In terms of the season, I believe it is—I’ve won a lot. My four years at PSG were wonderful, but the last year was one of the best of my career, and I’m proud of that. I hope to keep winning more trophies, chasing my dreams, and pursuing new goals.
Right now, the top priority is the national team. We have two important games ahead, and we need to fight hard because we have to show stability and desire. I believe we’ll do that.
Now many national team players play in the Premier League—Is this an honor, or does it indicate a decline in Serie A’s competitiveness?
Serie A is an important and growing league. People say it lacks talent, but that’s nonsense—talent is there, and the young players are strong too. We have a powerful national team that can grow a lot, and our confidence will increase with time. I’m sure that if we work together, we’ll achieve great things and gain a lot of satisfaction.
The outside world often says you have deficiencies in ball distribution, yet you’re moving to Guardiola’s team. Is this the reason you left PSG? What issues did you have with Luciano Spalletti?
Every coach has their own choices. I don’t know the reasons, and I don’t want to know. I’m proud to have the chance to be coached by Guardiola, and I believe I can improve a lot under his management.
I’m also grateful to Spalletti—he gave me a lot. We still keep in touch; it’s just that some things didn’t work out, and that’s not just the coach’s responsibility. We players should have done more on the pitch. As for the coaching change, that’s the president’s decision, and I don’t get involved. But I’m glad to maintain a relationship with Spalletti because he’s dedicated so much to football and still has a lot to contribute.
What about your footwork, then?
I always try my best to help the team. Of course, I can improve in all aspects, and I’ll work hard to refine everything the coach asks of me.
Andrea Rovella said there’s been a lack of fighting spirit lately—what do you think as captain? What changes has Gattuso brought?
Against Norway, we lacked the strength to bounce back. Conceding goals happens, and after that, the home crowd’s atmosphere intensifies. We need to regain that Italian spirit of bouncing back and unite as one. We’re working on this with Gattuso, trying to rediscover our confidence.
He makes everyone feel important, from the first player to the last. The goal is also to build a team, rediscover the joy of playing, and be more relaxed on the pitch—without being constrained by pressure, because that affects performance. Under Gattuso, the team is regaining this state, and I believe we can perform well and get back to where we belong.
What are your new goals?
To win as many honors as possible with both Manchester City and Italy. We need to bring Italy back to where it deserves to be—that’s what everyone has earned. That’s my goal; we need to prove we can do it because we’re a strong team.
Jannik Sinner has a match tonight.
I chat with him often, but we talk about everything except football and tennis. Our relationship is special, and I’m happy because he’s a quiet, simple kid who loves his family and values his privacy. We clicked right away. I wish him good luck tonight—the Italian Derby is always special.
How did you get through these turbulent days? When did you realize your time at PSG was over?
I’ve been training with PSG’s goalkeeping coach, so in that regard, there’s no problem. I’m in good form and can’t wait to be here with the national team, start working together, and embark on a new journey. I’ve been training well. I found out I was no longer in PSG’s plans early in the training camp.
Do you ever feel your footwork is poor? What do you think of Serie A?
I made my Serie A debut at 16, and I’ve been performing well ever since. Serie A is highly competitive—there are many teams that can contend for the final title, so this year will be tough for me. It’s hard to say who the biggest favorite is; 4-5 teams will compete until the end.
What are your expectations for Friday’s match? As a father, how do you feel about the game against Israel?
On Friday, we have to come out strong from the start and show who we are. The coach is preparing us in the best way possible; he’s imprinting his style on us, and I’m glad he’s here. I know what he can bring to the national team. It will definitely be a tough match, so we need to be well-prepared and focused. We have the ability to play a great game, and we thank everyone who comes to watch us live.
As for the second question—I just became a father, and seeing certain images and news breaks my heart. But this is a situation bigger than us, and I don’t want to comment deeply on it. We just want to play football. Our goal is to bring peace. It’s painful to see such a situation, but political issues are far bigger than us. We just play football.
