Gianluigi Donnarumma and Erling Haaland are ‘two warriors with hearts of gold’ who have struck up a genuine friendship at Manchester City, according to the goalkeeper’s agent Enzo Raiola, who also hit back at years of ‘unfair’ criticism aimed at his client.
Man City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is managed by Enzo Raiola.More Videos
Beyond the tactics and team sheets that fans see, there is so much that goes into fostering a healthy dressing room atmosphere at any football club - and at Manchester City two of the biggest names in the building have formed a bond that transcends the training pitch.
That’s according to Enzo Raiola, agent to Donnarumma, who has offered some warm insight into his client’s friendships, the criticism he has weathered and the pride that drove him to become one of the top shot-stoppers in the world.
Enzo Raiola has revealed that his client Gianluigi Donnarumma has been given reassurances by Manchester City that the fallout from their guilty verdict will not affect the goalkeeper's future at the club.cityxtra.co.ukDonnarumma Reassured Over Man City Future Despite Guilty Verdict, Says Enzo Raiola
Enzo Raiola has revealed that his client Gianluigi Donnarumma has been given reassurances by Manchester City that the fallout from their guilty verdict will not affect the goalkeeper's future at the club.
Two warriors with hearts of gold, says Enzo Raiola on Donnarumma and Haaland
Speaking to Radio Napoli Centrale, Raiola, cousin of the late super-agent Mino, explained why he believes Donnarumma and Haaland have formed such a close friendship.
“They’re two lads with the same character,” he said in quotes carried by Calciomercato.com and relayed by Football Italia,
“Haaland was managed by Mino, and before that Gigio [Donnarumma] also had a special relationship with Mino. They’re two good lads, two warriors with hearts of gold. That’s why they get on so well.”
From his comments, the connection clearly goes deeper than a shared dressing room. Both players were tied to the late Mino Raiola, the extremely successful agent who helped shape a long list of elite careers before his death in 2022, and that shared relationship has helped two of City’s marquee names click away from the pitch as well as on it.
For supporters - particularly amidst the current legal uncertainty - the sight of two of the club’s biggest names, and two members of the captaincy group, pulling in the same direction will go a long way.
Standing up to the doubters
Raiola also made a point of defending a client he feels has been unfairly singled out throughout his career.
“For years I’ve said that Donnarumma would be the best,” he said. “In some games and incidents, people loaded Gianluigi with doubts and criticism. I always preached calm. Many people criticised Donnarumma unfairly, especially given his quality.
“The criticism of Gigio? There’s always been too much. They pointed out his mistakes for a few more likes.”
To Raiola’s mind, errors such as the one Donnarumma made in last season’s win over Arsenal have been magnified out of proportion. There may be some truth in his sentiment; despite his fantastic global reputation, the Italian is arguably one of the most harshly criticised players in Manchester City's current squad.
Pride, pain and the armband
As Italy's captain, Donnarumma answers to Roberto Mancini, the very manager who steered Manchester City to their first Premier League title. His agent painted a picture of a man utterly devoted to his country.
“When Gigio talks about the national team, his eyes light up,” Raiola said. “And every time he sings the anthem, I get a little tear in my eye. Now he has the captain’s armband too.”
Not everything has gone his way. Italy’s absence from a third successive FIFA World Cup over the summer would surely cut deep, and Raiola admitted that the setback “weighs heavily” on a player for whom the tournament represents “his biggest ambition”.
Even so, after another commanding showing against France last week, his agent has no doubts about what comes next. “He’ll keep doing it for many more years,” Raiola promised.