JuicyTalk
Gianluigi Donnarumma has revealed that Manchester City were the “only option” he considered this summer, saying he already feels fully at home at the Etihad Stadium.
The Italian goalkeeper sealed a £26m deadline-day transfer after being told by Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique that he was no longer part of the club’s plans – despite lifting three trophies with PSG last season, including the Champions League.
“I was very clear, my desire was to come here,” said Donnarumma. “That was my only option, the only thing I wanted.
“My only choice was to come here… so I am happy to be here at City and be part of this fantastic team.
“Before the summer I knew that City were very interested in me, the relationship strengthened after the Club World Cup.
“I knew the coach was pushing for my arrival here, everyone wanted me here, it gave me such pride to see such a demonstration of affection. I didn’t hesitate to come here with great joy and enthusiasm.”
The 26-year-old made an immediate impact on his Premier League debut, keeping a clean sheet in City’s 3-0 derby victory over Manchester United.
He was warmly embraced by Erling Haaland and others after producing a brilliant stop to deny Bryan Mbeumo.
Reflecting on his bond with his new team-mates, Donnarumma added: “Aside from a fantastic player, one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world, [Haaland] is a fantastic person as well and that is what makes him even better in a way.
“I have got an incredible relationship with him, he immediately welcomed me. It feels like I have been here for many years, the way they welcomed me.
“The behaviour of a team has to be that, it has to be like a family and when a team-mate saves a goal, you have to all celebrate as if it was a goal scored by a team.
“That is important for me, we have to all be united. It was a huge thing, the result against United to go higher and higher.”
