Manchester United pulled out of the race to sign superstar goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before his £26m move to Manchester City.
Donnarumma’s representatives were in talks with a number of clubs after he was effectively banished from PSG by Luis Enrique.
The Italian starred in PSG’s incredible treble-winning campaign last season but Enrique still wanted a new No. 1 and signed Lucas Chevalier earlier in the summer.
Manchester United were initially interest in signing Donnarumma, who on top of winning the Champions League last season is a European Championship winner with Italy.
United were not expected to sign a new goalkeeper just two weeks ago but difficult starts to the season for Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana forced a rethink.
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Signing Donnarumma may have been an attractive proposition given his status in the game but Manchester United surprisingly chose not to rival Manchester City for a late deal.
Sky Sports say United were put off by his ‘huge salary’ and the fact any future sell-on fee would be minimal. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez was avoided for the same reason.
Instead, Manchester United completed an £18m deadline-day deal for Senne Lammens, signing the Royal Antwerp shot-stopper on a five-year contract.
Lammens, 23, will be on a far lower salary than Donnarumma and Martinez and could conceivably be moved on for a similar fee that he cost if he does not work out at Old Trafford.
But failing to sign Donnarumma will have left several United legends disappointed, with Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes all recently calling for him to join.
‘For me, Donnarumma is out there and if there’s a possibility you can get him, you have to go for him,’ Rooney said on his new BBC podcast. ‘Clearly that [the goalkeeper] is an issue.
‘With Donnarumma, he’s 26 and one of the best keepers in the world. It would be crazy if Manchester United didn’t go for him.
‘If the deal can be done and what Donnarumma wants [in terms of a salary] is another question but I’d certainly be asking the question and try to get him to the club.’
Man Utd legends call for Donnarumma signing
Gary Neville
‘There’s a glaring issue for Manchester United that can’t be ignored and that is that they do need to find a goalkeeper,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. ‘They have to.
‘That needs to be sorted either with a permanent signing or a loan. The two that you look at that have been mentioned in the last few weeks are Martinez and Donnarumma.
‘The reason I say those two would be good for United is not necessarily because they’re the two best goalkeepers in Europe, but they’ve got big personalities and characters.
‘You’ve seen Donnarumma in a Euros final saving those penalties, he looked like a giant, and you’ve seen him play for PSG in huge games under pressure.’
Paul Scholes
‘I think it’s a really strange signing for Pep Guardiola,’ Scholes said on The Overlap. ‘I love the ‘keeper [Donnarumma], I think he’s brilliant and I’d have him at United tomorrow, today, whenever.
‘For £40m [the previously reported price for Donnrumma] he’s unbelievable. But for Pep you’ve got to almost be able to play in central midfield as a goalkeeper.
‘I think that’s the reason [Luis] Enrique is getting rid of him at PSG, because he’s not great with his feet. I just don’t see him as a City goalkeeper.’
Donnarumma will likely come straight into the Manchester City team despite Pep Guardiola re-signing James Trafford earlier in the summer.
‘To have signed for Manchester City is such a special and proud moment for me,’ Donnarumma said.
‘I am joining a squad packed with world-class talent and a team led by the one of the greatest managers in the history of football in Pep Guardiola.
‘This is a club every player in world football would love to join. I have admired watching Manchester City for many years – so to now be able to play for the club is a huge honour and a privilege.
‘I cannot wait to meet my new teammates, the staff and the fans. Playing at the Etihad Stadium will be very, very special for me.
‘I am very excited for what lies ahead and can promise that I will give absolutely everything to try and help the club achieve even more success.’
Meanwhile, United deadline-day signing Lammens is expected to start his Old Trafford career as a back-up player despite Bayindir and Onana’s struggles.
‘I am extremely proud to be joining Manchester United. It is a real dream come true,’ he said following his £18m move from Belgium.
‘The past few years have been an amazing journey, it’s now ended in an incredible destination and hopefully the beginning of something special.’
United’s director of football Jason Wilcox added: ‘Senne is an excellent young goalkeeper with great potential.
‘We are delighted that he has chosen to join Manchester United after significant interest from a number of clubs.’
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