Wayne Rooney revealed there was a Manchester City player who Manchester United should have signed as the hosts won 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side looked at ease for the most part as they dominated proceedings during the Manchester Derby.
One man who stood out was Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Peter Schmeichel praised Donnarumma after he leapt to his right-hand side and miraculously saved Bryan Mbeumo’s well-struck volley, with the goalkeeper also keeping Benjamin Sesko’s effort at bay.
On BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Podcast, he honed in on the fact that Manchester United should have signed Manchester City’s £30 million man Donnarumma as he was impressed by his showing.
Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma celebrates during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Wayne Rooney heaps praise on Gianluigi Donnarumma after Man City 3-0 Man United
Wayne Rooney believes that Donnarumma did the basics to a tee against Manchester United, which is exactly why Manchester City signed him.
Pep Guardiola wanted to sign Donnarumma in 2017 and on his debut, he looked assured in between the sticks.
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Rooney said: “The ‘keeper made a big difference. I know he made a good save from Mbeumo but then he just little things which maybe you know why he brought him in. He came through people, he punched a few out.”
Wayne Rooney also claimed that he recommended Manchester United to sign Donnarumma, who is a world-class goalkeeper but in Senne Lammens, the Red Devils have signed a project player instead.
“I think it was after the first game of the season first game of the season. Yeah. I was like, Man United should go and get Donnarumma and whether financially they could or he wanted to come didn’t want to come you don’t know but in the end we’ve ended up with another project to up and we’ve signed the ‘keeper on potential is always a risk.”
Andre Onana stopped Man United from signing Gianluigi Donnarumma
Erling Haaland pinpointed Altay Bayindir’s weaknesses by claiming that he “rushes out a lot”, who is United’s other goalkeeping option aside from 23-year-old Lammens.
Unlike both of Manchester United’s goalkeepers, as Wayne Rooney mentioned, Donnarumma is experienced and that was on show during his first outing for Manchester City.
However, Donnarumma caught Manchester United’s eye but ultimately, they were unable to sign him due to their failure to sell Andre Onana at the time.
Eventually, Onana has sealed a loan move to Trabzonspor while the former PSG number one has become a City player.
Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and Manchester City will be delighted that they beat their local rivals to his signature.