Gianluigi Donnarumma could indeed leave PSG, even after winning the Champions League.
According to L’Equipe, negotiations to extend the contract of the 26-year-old Italian goalkeeper have almost come to a halt, Idman.biz reports.
Donnarumma wants a salary increase. At the same time, PSG has found a new goalkeeper from Lille and is close to completing the transfer.
But what about Gigi? Is he really going to leave?
Donnarumma is demanding a pay rise, while PSG is offering even less. How much? Donnarumma wants at least €15 million per year. He currently earns about €13 million. PSG has reduced the fixed amount to €10 million and plans to compensate the difference with bonuses, the club is not willing to compromise. They value Donnarumma highly but have no intention of keeping him at all costs, his current contract expires in a year, and if not extended, he needs to be sold now, otherwise letting him go for free would be foolish.
Gigi wants to stay at PSG but insists that his performances this season deserve better financial recognition.
Moreover, this is not the first time Donnarumma’s contract extension has come up: for example, last summer he was linked with a move to Manchester City. According to L’Equipe, a similar situation is happening again: some information is being circulated by his agent Enzo Raiola (cousin of the late Mino Raiola), including interest from Bayern Munich and Juventus. Enzo hasn’t even ruled out a return to Milan, you may remember how much he was loved there.
But PSG is not giving in to Raiola’s pressure. They’ve already agreed to sign Lille’s goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, paying over €40 million including bonuses. Journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that one of the key conditions of the deal is a starting role. With the World Cup approaching, Chevalier needs regular playing time. He likely refused to join PSG as a backup.
L’Equipe insists: if Chevalier is being signed, it means negotiations with Donnarumma have failed. PSG had no plans to sign a new goalkeeper. Donnarumma is completely unwilling to be a substitute, last season, when Luis Enrique started Russian Matvey Safonov, he nearly clashed with the coach. The Italian keeper doesn’t even accept rotation, playing every game is crucial for him.
According to Tavolieri and Foot Mercato, several clubs are interested in PSG’s goalkeeper.
Chelsea is mentioned most frequently. Donnarumma is open to moving to England, and the London club is searching for a long-term number one. Robert Sanchez doesn’t appear convincing. Before the Club World Cup, Chelsea held talks with Milan for Mike Maignan, but they couldn’t agree on the price for the 30-year-old. Since then, Chelsea seemed to have paused their search and began “clearing out” their goalkeeping department: Maarten Vandevoordt was loaned out, and Djordje Petrovic was sold.
Donnarumma has also been linked with Manchester City and Manchester United, but the situations there depend on the departure of their current first-choice goalkeepers.
Surprisingly, Galatasaray has also been named as a potential destination. The Turkish club is reportedly trying to take advantage of PSG’s difficulties in negotiations. After resolving Victor Osimhen’s situation, the “Galatasaray” are feeling more confident. Though it seems unlikely that Donnarumma would agree to leave the top five leagues, Foot Mercato claims this option is on the table.
In May, agent Enzo Raiola confirmed that they are open to exploring new options: “We’re not in a hurry. Our relationship with the club is good. Gianluigi is happy in Paris, but interest from other clubs is a positive sign. No one has made concrete moves yet. If a new contract isn’t signed, we’ll consider alternatives. For now, nothing is off the table.”
He also emphasized the significance of his client: “Donnarumma deserves the Ballon d’Or. Without his saves, PSG would have never won the Champions League.”
Perhaps we’ll get to test that claim next season.
Idman.biz
