Gigio Donnarumma don open him mouth talk wetin dey him mind about the move wey shock plenty football fans recently. The Italian goalkeeper wey everybody sabi, the same guy wey don dey catch ball since him small pikin days for AC Milan, don yarn say e no be small thing as Manchester City show am serious love and interest.
According to Donnarumma, e say:
“Honestly, I really wanted to join Man City… they wanted me, I felt their strong interest and Pep Guardiola really trusted me. Pep wanted me there and I can only feel proud about that. I’m so, so happy to join such a top club”.
Now make we decode wetin the young keeper dey try talk.
First of all, if you dey follow football, you go know say Pep Guardiola no dey just sign player anyhow. For Pep to dey call your name, e mean say your talent don already reach world-class level. Donnarumma dey still young, but the kain experience wey e don get both for club level and international stage dey massive. Remember say this guy na the same person wey win Player of the Tournament for Euro 2020 after Italy knack England for Wembley. Na him safe those crucial penalties wey break English hearts.
So, imagine am: Pep Guardiola, the tactical genius wey dey always dey find perfect players wey go fit slot into him system, show Donnarumma say “I trust you, I want you for my team.” For Donnarumma, e no be small honour. He even talk am say the trust wey Pep show am dey give am joy and pride.
The gist wey dey sweet for here be say Donnarumma no dey just happy say him join one club wey dey play Champions League every year, but he dey happy say the coach wey many people dey call the “greatest of all time” for modern football, personally choose am. You know say for ball, e dey different when club wan sign you and when the coach himself wan sign you. If na coach wan sign you, e mean say na you go get chance play, because na the coach go dey arrange the team list.
Make we reason am: City already get top goalkeepers. Ederson don dey there for years, dey win titles left, right and centre. But the fact say Pep still dey eye Donnarumma show say he wan add more competition and maybe prepare for the future. Donnarumma na giant for post – him height dey almost 2 meters, and the way him dey dive dey always frustrate strikers. For Premier League wey strikers dey fire shots like machine gun, na correct asset to get person like that for goalpost.
This move go also ginger Donnarumma career. Yes, PSG give am big platform but the French league no dey carry the same weight like Premier League. For England, every weekend na battle. You fit dey play Sheffield today and still struggle, unlike for France wey only like two or three teams dey compete seriously. For person like Donnarumma wey wan cement him legacy as one of the best keepers ever, na City be the perfect place.
Another thing wey dey important be the mentality. For football, no be only skill dey matter, mindset dey key. Donnarumma talk say he dey proud because Pep Guardiola trust am. That kain trust dey give player confidence. If coach believe in you, you go fit give 200% performance. Imagine am: Donnarumma dey stand for Etihad goalpost, the whole stadium dey shout, and he dey remember say “Pep handpick me.” That one alone fit make striker no fit score am.
And na the bigger picture wey dey sweet City fans be this: their club dey show say dem no dey settle. Dem don win Premier League titles, dem don win Champions League, but dem still dey go market to find the best talents. With Donnarumma, City dey tell the world say dem wan maintain dominance for long.
For Donnarumma side, this move na dream come true. He dey young, he dey hungry, and he get chance to play under Pep, wey many players dey pray to learn from. Who no go happy for that kain opportunity?
Na why the guy yarn say he “so, so happy” to join City. The happiness no be just about money or contract length, na about the respect and belief wey Guardiola show am.
In summary: Donnarumma dey proud say Pep Guardiola personally trust am. The move to Manchester City na big step for him career, and e show say City no dey joke when e come to building strong squad.
TPB readers, wetin una think? Donnarumma fit bench Ederson or he go dey rotate?
