Man City paid ‘£10m more than expected’ to complete Gianluigi Donnarumma deal
Manchester City paid £10million more than expected to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG.
Man City confirmed the signing of Donnarumma on 2 September, having agreed a £26million deal with the French champions.
Pep Guardiola was able to add the 26-year-old to his goalkeeping options after Ederson finalised a move to Fenerbahce, with the Turkish club paying around £12million.
Football Insider revealed on 2 September Donnarumma will replace James Trafford as first-choice goalkeeper following his arrival at the Etihad Stadium.
Trafford started for Man City in their first three Premier League games of the new campaign, having rejoined the club from Burnley in July.
Man City ‘held all the cards’ in Gianluigi Donnarumma talks
This article contains exclusive comment from Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Man City.
Donnarumma, who previously spent four years with PSG, has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad.
The Italy international will be in line to make his debut against Manchester United on Sunday (14 September).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “City probably paid slightly more than I would have expected, but only about £10million.
“I would have thought that given PSG were over a barrel with the player, because he could only really go to City given his wages and given I think that he decided that’s where he wanted to go, City seemed to hold the cards.
“I think they probably could have squeezed a bit harder but no doubt they think about relationships going forward.
“I think it’s the first player City have bought from PSG under the Qatari ownership, so I don’t know what the relations are like between the clubs.
“But maybe that made it more difficult to play hardball or maybe it made it easy, I don’t know.
“But anyway, I would have expected it to be a little bit lower.”
Man City to ask questions of Pep Guardiola
Recruitment expert Mick Brown told Football Insider Man City will be asking questions of Guardiola following his side’s difficult start to the new season.
The Manchester giants beat Wolves 4-0 on the opening day of the campaign.
However, they have since lost back-to-back matches against Tottenham and Brighton, leaving them trailing reigning champions Liverpool by six points.
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