Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma has spoken about the atmosphere around the Azzurri and his life at Manchester City so far.
Talking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the towering 26-year-old stopper asserted that World Cup qualification is a must.
โ(Missing out) wonโt happen a third time. It canโt happen. This national team will end up at the next World Cup. I have no doubts.
โThe lessons of the past are meaningful if you embrace them. We wonโt underestimate anyone, we wonโt take anyone lightly; it wouldnโt make sense to do so. And, besides, this group loves each other. Weโll be ready when playoff time comes.โ
Donnarumma, who was first named captain in 2021, addressed the positive impact of new boss Gennaro Gattuso.
โYou feel him on your back. Itโs as if heโs behind you every moment of the game. Our coach loves dialogue. He talks a lot, and he explains everything to us. He quickly gave us back a very strong collective identity.โ
The resounding Azzurri message is an impressive one. โIn this new Italy, the group is healthy, beautiful, united: I can say that with certainty. We feel good together, we feel in harmony with each other.โ
Donnarumma last played in Italy in 2021 before leaving his boyhood AC Milan for PSG. The now-Manchester City goalkeeper noted that he still has a firm eye on Serie A โ especially the already-pulsating title race.
โThere are four or five teams that will be able to have their say until the end. This is precisely what gives Serie A a new dimension.โ
Old connections fade slowly with Donnarumma. The man with 251 Rossoneri appearances still holds them close to his heart, especially for the Scudetto. โI like Milan, and Iโm curious about everything behind this turnaround. Iโm thinking of Allegri, but not only that.โ
โMilan have great ambitions. I spoke to people I know who are familiar with the Rossoneri environment: they believe in it there, and theyโre right to do so.โ
He also spoke about his start to life at Manchester City, revealing that he wants to stay there for as long as possible.
When asked about Pep Guardiola, he said: โWhen you listen to it, youโre enchanted. I imagined it like this, but the reality is even better than I imagined. I hope to stay in Manchester as long as possible, to have a truly unique experience.โ
The 26-year-old also revealed that he feels wanted at Manchester City.
โI feel at home at City, even though itโs only been a short time since I moved there. They wanted me firmly, they made me feel important, and now they already consider me one of them.โ
It is clear that Donnarumma is rising in stature at Manchester City and this will only help Italy, especially if they qualify for the World Cup.
ย
GIFNย |ย Max Bradfield
ย
