The Italian goalkeeper now at City: “You can feel Gattuso’s presence. In the Premier League, they run more, but that doesn’t make it better than Serie A.”
A ball can slip away. “Yes, but you can’t understand how angry I am…” One ball and disaster strikes: it happens on an October night, at home in Tallinn, Estonia, a mistake that only slightly affects the result. Two balls can be intercepted and, this time, it’s the dives that determine the verdict, Udine, the match against Israel and, above all, the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup. Gigio Donnarumma is the captain of a ship put back in the water by coach Rino Gattuso and a cure that has the effect of a crisis unit: pride and passion, self-esteem and awareness. A blender from which the ticket to the world must emerge.
One, two and… that’s it.
“The third time won’t happen, it can’t happen: this national team will qualify for the next World Cup. I have no doubt.”
No doubt, complete certainty…
“The lessons of the past make sense if you learn from them: we won’t underestimate anyone, no one will be taken lightly, it wouldn’t make sense to do so. And, besides, this group loves each other: we’ll be ready when the playoffs come around.“
A time not too far off: we’ll be on the field in March.
”A time that will allow us to get even more in tune with our coach, to metabolize his ideas, to give substance to his football.”
Let’s put the Azzurri question aside for a moment: speaking of soccer, do you like Serie A when you watch it from afar?
“Yes, very much. I find it entertaining, and if it’s entertaining, it’s interesting.”
First from Paris, now from Manchester: yours is a privileged, almost unique vantage point.
“I have been fortunate enough to experience very different realities: from Ligue 1 to the Premier League, where I have recently arrived. With the eyes of someone looking from afar, I can say that our soccer is no less than the others.”
Yet you are in the spotlight with a lower gear: that’s what everyone says…
“In England, they run from the first to the last minute of the game, which is not the case with us, but that doesn’t mean it’s better or worse. That’s just how it is…”
Penalty kick: who will win the championship?
“There are four or five teams that will have a say until the very last minute. And, as I said before, this is what gives Serie A a new dimension.“
Penalty kick again: who do you see as the most likely to win the title?
”I like Milan, I’m intrigued by everything behind the turnaround. I’m thinking of Allegri, but not only him.”
Milan for the Scudetto, then.
“Milan with big ambitions. I’ve spoken to people I know who are familiar with the Rossoneri environment: they believe in it and they’re right to do so.”
The rest of the pack?
“Inter are strong, a tried and tested group that feeds off recent knowledge. Conte’s confirmation at Napoli with the energy and skill of the Italian champion coach, Gasperini’s new Roma and their room for improvement, and Juventus to be taken into consideration. There’s plenty to enjoy.“
First in Paris, now in Manchester, on the City side. When you listen to Pep Guardiola, what goes through your mind?
”At City, I feel at home even though it hasn’t been long since I transferred there. They wanted me badly, they made me feel important, and now they already consider me one of their own…”
And Guardiola?
“When you listen to him, you’re spellbound. I imagined him to be like that, but the reality is even better than I expected. I hope to stay in Manchester as long as possible and have a truly unique experience.”
Guardiola enchants you, Gattuso…
“You can feel Gattuso on you, it’s as if he’s behind you every moment of the game. Our coach loves dialogue, he talks a lot, he explains everything to us: he quickly gave us back a very strong collective identity.“
Will he also give us back a place in the World Cup?
”The word ‘playoff’ doesn’t scare us, it won’t affect us.”
In this national team, the group is healthy, beautiful, united: that’s what people often say.
“In this new Italy, the group is healthy, beautiful, united: I can say that with certainty. We are good together, we feel in harmony with each other.” Our Azzurri captain is betting on Milan, applauding the uncertainty of the Italian championship as seen from the outside and listening to Pep Guardiola with fascination: his real mission is the World Cup.
