He has been criticized, pushed around, questioned, but the Italian wall Gianluigi Donnarumma has continued to impress his world in recent weeks. Now more regular, the Italian goalkeeper exudes serenity in his decisions and greater control of his kicking game. Already heroic against AS Monaco (0-0), the native of Castellammare di Stabia made four high-class saves to avoid a defeat for his team in the Principality: “No personal feelings, I had a good match. It’s not easy here and we wanted to win, but Monaco is a great team. We had a good match despite everything. The opponent had quality, there was difficulty, the team had a good attitude”, Gigio rejoiced after the meeting. Tuesday evening, on the pitch of the Anoeta stadium against Real Sociedad (1-2), the 25-year-old Italian once again showed the extent of his talent in this round of 16 second leg of the Champions League.
“Gigi is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, he works very well and he adapted to our ideas. He is very intelligent, he gives us a lot of confidence because it is difficult to score against him., had hammered coach Luis Enrique after the duel against Monaco. And yesterday in the Spanish Basque Country, Gianluigi Donnarumma did not miss his mission. He, who had cost PSG dearly against Real Madrid in the round of 16 of the 2022 edition, swapped the dunce cap from zero to don the hero’s costume, like his superb parade worthy of a handball goalkeeper, in front of Benat Turrientes (79th). But behind this strong comeback of Super Gigio, certain protagonists in Italy find the answers to their thousand questions. Indeed, a few months before Euro 2024 in Germany (from June 14 to July 14, 2024), the Squadra Azzurra should under no circumstances change goalkeepers, at a time when fans and journalists were demanding Guglielmo Vicario or even Michele DiGregorio.
A shape that impresses Italy!
Men lie, numbers don’t. According to the database Wyscout, Gianluigi Donnarumma is currently the most decisive goalkeeper on his line in the five major European championships. If the stops on his line have always represented his strong point, today he becomes the master of this force, the best in the exercise. Enough to reassure the Italian fans who were asking for his head some time ago: “I have never been Donnarumma’s biggest fan but it must be recognized that his rise to power over several weeks is proof that he is capable of responding when the popular outcry intensifies against him. He was often criticized for being too soft, not hard enough when we poked him, when we took him out of his comfort zone., tells us Giovanni, supporter of Inter and Squadra Azzurra. Note that the former Rossonero goalkeeper has an average of 75% saves per match this season. Always foolproof in this area.
After two traumatic absences in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022), Italy is going through a transition phase under the leadership of Luciano Spalletti, who arrived with great fanfare to replace Roberto Mancini. If the big project lies on the offensive lines, the former Napoli coach can count on Gianluigi Donnarumma: “I have the impression that Gigio was able to compensate for his kicking game to highlight his other qualities. And it made him stronger. Yesterday, he only managed a few raises, but on the line he was indomitable. And if he has centrals who know how to restart in front of him, perhaps that will be one of the keys to finishing his season in Paris in style.”, analyzes Teo Contu, journalist and AC Milan fan. A sure value, a constant element, an obvious talent… This is what Italy lacks most, which, despite strong young people developing in the defensive sector, is still struggling to regain its letters of nobility. The Donnarumma of 2024 ticks all these boxes, all the needs of the Italian selection.
“Who is Mbappé? From now on, Donnarumma is the new idol of Paris.”it is with these dithyrambic words that the Italian daily, Gazzetta dello Sport, titled one of its recent articles about the Italian goalkeeper: “Around Christmas, the French media were pushing for even novice Tenas to start, pointing out the Italian’s insecurities in his footwork. Gigio, however, did not let himself be destabilized, multiplying high-level performances in the Champions League and in the championship., continued the pink paper newspaper in its analysis of Gigio’s high-flying performance against Monaco. With 60 selections in the National League, the PSG goalkeeper has officially received the captaincy of the Italian selection since Leonardo Bonucci is no longer called up for the selection. Il Capitano Gigio is ready to defend his country’s title in Germany, having been the hero of the Squadra Azzurra epic in the summer of 2021.
