The Italian goalkeeper: “I’m happy for Gattuso, he’ll give his all for Italy. Luis Enrique told me right away what he was planning to do, I appreciated that.”

Now that he is a City player, he is more relaxed and ready to lead Italy to victory in the next two games against Estonia and Israel as captain. Gigio Donnarumma spoke today in Coverciano without shying away from the most uncomfortable questions, such as those about Luis Enrique’s behavior and his break with PSG.

Gigio was honest and admitted that his summer had not been easy: “The truth is that in the last few days I have been affected by what happened, but I have always been fine and trained well. I couldn’t wait to go to City because the club and the coach really wanted me. You can’t help but be proud to be so wanted by the most important club in the world. I’m happy and excited. Disappointed with Luis Enrique? I’ve always had a great relationship with the coach. I appreciated him because he was straightforward with me from the start. I didn’t expect to leave the night we won the Champions League, but this season he came to me and told me what he had decided about me and the goalkeeper position. That’s why I can’t be disappointed. It’s right that everyone makes their own choices, and he made his. Having the support of my teammates and the people at PSG made me realize what I gave to the club. What remains at the end of the day are these things: knowing that everyone cares about me makes me proud and happy with what I left behind. During my years in Paris, I felt at home, and I can only be happy about this period, which I will never forget.”

HAPPY FOR RINO—  Donnarumma then spoke about Gattuso as coach, his relationship with him, and Italy’s upcoming matches: “I know Gattuso because I was lucky enough to be coached by him at Milan. I know what kind of person he is and what he can give to the team. He will give his all for Italy, and we will do the same to bring the national team back to the top. Now we have to move forward step by step, aware that we have a strong, young team that wants to excite. Four years ago, I asked President Gravina to sign here (for PSG, ed.), and I did the same thing this time (with City, ed.) because it brings good luck.“ Then again, a digression on his history between PSG and City: ”I’m calm because if City and Guardiola, one of the best coaches in the world, want you, it’s exciting. I will work hard to try to improve. Was last year the best of my career? I think so because we won a lot. The seasons in Paris were great, and I want to continue winning more trophies and achieving many more successes, cultivating my dreams and goals. My first thought now, however, is the national team: there are two important games coming up, and we need to show that we are a young and hungry team.”

GOALS AND SINNER—  Then some random thoughts, but not trivial ones: “Spalletti? I say hello to him and hear from him often. Something didn’t work out, but we were the ones on the field and we had to do more. The decision to sack him was made by the management, but I’m happy to have established a relationship with him. Against Norway, we didn’t have the strength to get back up after conceding an early goal. We need to rediscover that Italian strength to get back up together. We’re working on that with Gattuso: he’s making us all feel important, from the first to the last. Now we need to come together as a group, enjoy ourselves, and not feel that huge pressure on the pitch that we felt and paid for. There has to be a little pressure, but not too much. With Gattuso, we’re getting back on the right track. The goal is to win as much as possible, with City and Italy, and to do that, we’ll have to work hard. We are capable of winning with Italy because we are a strong team. Sinner? We are friends and we talk about everything except soccer and tennis. I have a special relationship with him. I wish him the best of luck for tonight’s derby with Musetti. Does everything that has been said make me feel poor with my feet? No, not for what I have done from the age of 16 to today. Mistakes happen, but I think I’ve done great things in my career. Serie A? It will be a tough battle: it’s difficult to pick a favorite, four or five teams could win the Scudetto. But now we have to focus only on Estonia, a difficult match that we have to approach with humility to show who we are. The coach is making his mark: I know him and I’m happy he’s here. He will help us. The situation in Israel and the Italy-Israel match? As a new father, it hurts to see certain images and hear certain news. We’re just trying to play soccer because this situation is bigger than us. Before closing, let me say to little Thomas (the goalkeeper injured by a parent who entered the field over the weekend, ed.) that we are all with him and that we condemn all forms of violence. I send him a big hug from the whole team and we look forward to seeing him at Coverciano to spend some time with us. This will most likely happen during the national team’s training camp in October.