Gianluigi Donnarumma has lifted the lid on the faith shown in him by Enzo Maresca, who has handed the goalkeeper a place among Manchester City’s captains this season.
Geronimo Rulli returned to Manchester City this summer as back-up to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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Donnarumma has swiftly become a mainstay of the Manchester City side since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain last summer and his standing at the club has only grown in the opening weeks of the new campaign.
Fresh from a hard-fought derby victory over Manchester United - in which he produced a brilliant last-minute save to deny Bryan Mbuemo - the Italy captain has been reflecting on his second season at the Etihad Stadium, and the manager overseeing it.
Speaking back in his homeland while away on international duty, the goalkeeper had nothing but warm words for Maresca, revealing the significant responsibility the Italian has entrusted him with.
Donnarumma Reveals Pride at Man City Captaincy Group Spot
Speaking to Sky Sport's Gianluca Di Marzio, Donnarumma disclosed that Maresca has installed him as one of the club’s captains - an honour the shot-stopper clearly cherishes.
“It was a very emotional victory [against United],” Donnarumma said. “Maresca has great faith in me. He chose me as one of the team’s captains, and for me it is an enormous source of pride to represent this shirt with that responsibility.”
It is a striking show of trust in a goalkeeper still only in his second season at the Etihad Stadium. With long-serving leaders such as Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri all having moved on over the summer, Maresca has leaned on his most decorated names to help shoulder that burden - and Donnarumma’s inclusion among them speaks volumes about the authority he already commands within the dressing room.
For a serial winner long accustomed to captaining his country, it is a role that appears to fit him perfectly, and one he is plainly relishing as City chase honours on multiple fronts. Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Mark Guehi make up the rest of the four-man leadership group.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has hailed Manchester City’s ‘sublime’ display in their battling 10-man derby victory over Manchester United, while also questioning the red card shown to Phil Foden.cityxtra.co.ukDonnarumma Hails 'Sublime' Man City Performance in Old Trafford Derby Win
Gianluigi Donnarumma has hailed Manchester City’s ‘sublime’ display in their battling 10-man derby victory over Manchester United, while also questioning the red card shown to Phil Foden.
Maresca Has Great Attention to Detail, Says Donnarumma in High Praise for Man City Boss
The 27-year-old went on to laud the man-management of his head coach, who took over from Pep Guardiola in the summer and has masterminded a flawless start to the season.
“He has great attention to detail, he helps you a lot, and he has created a wonderful environment,” he added.
It is a glowing appraisal that speaks to the seamless nature of City’s managerial handover. Far from being unsettled by the departure of the most successful boss in the club’s history, Donnarumma has thrived under his successor, and his elevation to the leadership group underlines just how highly Maresca rates his number one. With City having won each of their opening Premier League games, that trust is already being repaid on the pitch.
Backing for Former Blue Roberto Mancini With Italy
There was also time for Donnarumma to discuss matters with the national team, and in particular the man now leading it - a name Manchester City supporters will know very well. Roberto Mancini, who guided City to their maiden Premier League title in 2012, has returned to take charge of an Italy side attempting to rebuild after the anguish of missing out on the World Cup yet again.
“With Mancini, we’ll return to where Italy deserves to be,” Donnarumma insisted. “I’m sure we’ll go back to doing well, qualifying for the Euros and then the World Cup. It wasn’t an easy summer, it was very hard. Now we have to turn the page, become optimistic and positive again, and recreate a great group.”
The goalkeeper, who was Italy’s penalty-shootout hero when his country defeated England in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, also reflected fondly on that triumph as the national side look to rediscover former glories.
“It was one of the most beautiful things of my life, perhaps the most beautiful of all alongside the birth of my son,” he said. “The image I want to remember forever is the embrace between Mancini and [the late Italian ex-player and manager] Gianluca Vialli after the final win.”
Until such a time as Italy make their long-awaited return to World Cup action, Donnarumma has plenty to look forward to in Manchester, where he appears determined to help drive City’s pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts. Under a manager who, by his own account, has placed enormous faith in him, the Italian will be crucial to his side's chances of success this season.