Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to play his first Champions League match with Manchester City on Thursday night against Napoli.
The Premier League giants host the Italian champions at the Etihad Stadium and enter the contest looking to put together a better European campaign than last season, which turned out to be very underwhelming as City exited at the play-off stage.
Thursday night will be all about the return of Kevin De Bruyne to Man City as an opposition player for the first time since his exit, but eyes will also remain on Donnarumma.
The Italian impressed on his Man City debut against Man United on Sunday, and the player’s agent has now revealed how he is feeling about playing Napoli on Thursday night.
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
Gianluigi Donnarumma is happy about playing Napoli in Manchester
Napoli are being viewed as one of the underdogs for the Champions League this season, having won Serie A last season, and have strengthened their squad significantly over the summer.
Donnarumma knows what a tough task the Italian side presents, and according to his agent, Vincenzo Raiola, the goalkeeper is happy to be playing Antonio Conte’s side in Manchester, rather than in Naples.
More Man City News
“Gianluigi [Donnarumma] told me he’s happy it’s being played in Manchester, because it would’ve been more difficult for him to play at the Stadio Maradona,” Raiola told Radio CRC via Tuttomercatoweb.
“Donnarumma is happy to play against Napoli, because it’s still a connection with home. Napoli are also among the top eight teams in Europe and can aim at winning the Champions League, especially with a leader like Antonio Conte.
“It’s a different format now, and there can be some setbacks, but they mustn’t get discouraged. Just look at how PSG grew from the tough start last season.”
Donnarumma is expected to start against Napoli on Thursday night, and the 26-year-old will look to continue to silence the people who have been doubting his signing ever since arriving at Man City on deadline day.
What Pep Guardiola expects of Gianluigi Donnarumma
Not only did Pep Guardiola want a top goalkeeper between the sticks for Man City when signing the Italian star, but the legendary coach also wanted a leader, admits Raiola.
“Many coaches have gone crazy for Donnarumma over the years. [Pep] Guardiola was very happy to have him,” Donnarumma’s agent said.
“Aside from how he wants Gianluigi to play, what he asked was to wake up the Man City team, because they need someone who can keep them on their toes and know how to revitalise the atmosphere.
“Donnarumma is a leader, sometimes a silent one, but in important moments, he always makes his voice heard.”
Only time will tell how the signing of Donnarumma works out for Guardiola and Man City, but so far, the signs have been positive.