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Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper, currently considered as one of the best in the world. The 26-year-old completed a move to Manchester City from PSG on the deadline day of this summer transfer window for a reported transfer fee of £26 million. This is Pep Guardiola’s second goal-keeping addition in this window following the signing of the young English international James Trafford from Burnley.
City's rivals Manchester United have made a total of five additions in the summer window out of which the last signing was in the goalkeeping department following Andre Onana’s poor performance in the recent matches. The Red Devils completed the signing of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. The 23-year-old Belgian is an up and coming goalkeeper who was signed for a transfer fee of €21m plus add-ons. Despite Gianluigi Donnarumma being an option in the transfer window, Manchester United opted not to sign the Italian international due to a specific reason.
Manchester United consider the wages of Gianluigi Donnarumma to be very high: Reports
Recent reports suggest that the reason why Manchester United did not consider signing Gianluigi Donnarumma for a reasonable transfer fee was about them knowing about his high wages, which the club would not be able to afford at this point, as reported by the Express in the UK. City sold their goalkeeper Ederson which carved the way for Donnarumma to sign for them. World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez was another option for United who also agreed on personal terms. However, United opted to sign Lammens considering that he would be a long-term investment.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is technically not a goalkeeper that manager Pep Guardiola has preferred in the past, especially considering him not being the best ball distributor. However, as soon as he was available in the recently concluded transfer window, Guardiola was eager to sign him considering the shot-stopping qualities he possesses. Under the guidance of the Manchester City boss, he has the potential to unleash himself and establish his name in the Premier League.
