Stefan Borson: PSG decision took Gianluigi Donnarumma’s agent by surprise
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s agent likely “overplayed his hand” at PSG before the goalkeeper secured a summer move to Manchester City.
Man City confirmed the signing of Donnarumma on 2 September, having agreed a £26million deal with PSG.
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 £12m.
Speaking to RMC Sport on 15 September, PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos revealed Donnarumma wanted a salary at the French side’s previous level, and that’s why the two parties couldn’t agree a new deal.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Guardiola’s side are likely to be paying a similar amount to the “enormous” deal the Italy international had in place with the Ligue 1 champions.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is world’s highest-paid goalkeeper
Donnarumma is believed to have been on around £500,000 a week before sealing his move to the Etihad Stadium.
The goalkeeper, who previously spent four years with PSG after arriving from AC Milan on a free transfer in 2021, has signed a five-year deal with Man City.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “You have to remember when Donnarumma signed for PSG, it was in the heyday of high wages as they sort of hinted, but it was also as a free transfer.
“You can well imagine that the overall package was utterly enormous when he signed for PSG. I think it’s always hard for players to take pay cuts when they’re 26, so it’s not surprising that his agent maybe overplayed his hand.
“Maybe he didn’t properly foresee that there was a possibility that PSG would go in a different direction and would see that he was dispensable, so maybe they got it wrong and overplayed their hand.
“I think he’s probably on huge money at City that’s not a million miles away from what he was on at PSG. But then that will obviously allow for the fact that City had to pay £26m, and that would have been factored into the overall package.
“I’m sure he’s the biggest-paid goalkeeper in the Premier League, I don’t think there’s much question about that.
“He’s probably the biggest-paid goalkeeper in the world, but he’s 26 and a top player, so you can well imagine that City felt that this was one that you could justify a premium wage for, notwithstanding that PSG are trying to bring their overall costs down.
“I mean, you have to remember, we are talking here about a club that’s got a huge wage bill historically. It was something like €600m (£523.2m) last season.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise that they need to bring their overall cost back down, and I don’t think it’s a surprise that City had felt that this was an amount that’s justified to invest.”
Donnarumma has already nailed down a starting spot at Man City following his arrival earlier this month.
Donnarumma has nailed down Man City starting spot
James Trafford started the first few games of the new season after securing a return to the Etihad from Burnley.
However, Donnarumma has now featured in all three games since joining Man City, where he’s kept two clean sheets.
Guardiola’s side have picked up seven points from their opening five Premier League matches.
The Citizens’ next Premier League game will see them host newly-promoted Burnley on Saturday (27 September).
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