Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma on the final day of the summer transfer window and the Italian has made an immediate impact at the Etihad.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Gianluigi Donnarumma has made an impressive start to his Manchester City career
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Pep Guardiola has been impressed with the way Gianluigi Donnarumma has adapted to the physicality on show in the Premier League and believes the Italian will get even stronger as he settles into life with Manchester City.
The Blues spent £26million to sign the goalkeeper from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and he has made an immediate impact at his new club, emerging as a leader and making the No.1 spot his own ahead of James Trafford.
Donnarumma stands at 6ft 5ins and is a physically imposing goalkeeper, but he has joined City at a time when set-pieces and route one football are making a comeback in the Premier League. The 26-year-old has looked unruffled by the approach, aside from conceding from a corner against Bournemouth, and Guardiola is happy with what he's seeing.
"[He's adapted] quite well in terms of physicality," he said. "I don't know if there is someone more physical than him. He's adapted quite well. He needs time, but I think the team evolved really well later and the 'keepers help everyone."
Trafford joined City in July and looked set to usurp Ederson as the first-choice goalkeeper, only for Donnarumma's arrival to cloud the picture.
Guardiola is impressed with both players but is now hoping Donnarumma's Italy can seal a World Cup spot in the March play-offs, after they were beaten to top spot in their group by Erling Haaland's Norway.
Italy have missed out on the last two World Cups and if they don't qualify this time, Donnarumma will be 31 by the time he next gets the chance to play in one.
"We have two incredible 'keepers with Gigi and James," said Guardiola. "I’m really impressed with James Trafford with how he's developed since he left the academy here, how he grew up in the previous seasons at Burnley with Vinny [Vincent Kompany] and Scott Parker.
"Gigi, always I said, when you start at 17 with Milan it’s because you are something special. All the players are qualified for the World Cup and hopefully Gigi can do it with all respect for the opponents they have - Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia - hopefully they can qualify."
Haaland scored four goals for Norway in their 4-1 wins against Estonia and Italy that secured a spot in next summer's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
It took the 25-year-old to 32 goals in 20 games for club and country this season and Guardiola said he deserved the chance to show off his talents at the highest level.
"He’s incredible this season, he’s breaking all the records, personal and individual records, Premier League records, for Norway," he said.
"Happy for him, his national team, many of the squad for Norway weren’t even born the last time Norway were in the World Cup. For the country it's incredible, an incredible qualification scoring a lot of goals.
"As a football player, world-class player, he deserves to play a World Cup and live the experience. I’m so happy for him."