After Gianluigi Donnarumma put in a standout performance in the Manchester Derby against Man Utd, many fans have been wondering why Man Utd didn’t sign him. Indeed, Man Utd held discussions with Donnarumma’s agent in July to explore the possibility of a transfer, but the two sides never entered a substantive negotiation phase—no official offer was made, and no concrete progress was achieved.
The reason lies in the fact that although Donnarumma’s transfer fee was not particularly high—Man City signed him from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a €30 million fixed fee plus €5 million in add-ons, a sum that is actually not excessive for a goalkeeper of his caliber—Man Utd’s hesitation stemmed not just from the transfer fee, but more so from the salary. Out of consideration for Financial Fair Play (FFP), the club’s wage structure, and internal salary control, Man Utd was unwilling to offer Donnarumma a top-tier salary contract. This was a strategic decision, and it also aligns with Man Utd’s current squad-building philosophy. As a result, Man Utd will soon promote youth academy goalkeeper Lammers to compete for the first-choice goalkeeper spot, and he is expected to get playing time under Amorim.
In contrast, Man City took a more proactive approach. The club had long identified Donnarumma as a potential target for the 2026 summer transfer window, with an original plan to sign him on a free transfer when his contract expired. However, when they saw an opportunity to sign him earlier in the summer of 2025, they acted decisively. Beyond that, Pep Guardiola also personally participated in the discussions, which became a key factor in convincing the player.
