Paul Scholes was keen for Manchester United to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer
Manchester United icon Paul Scholes insists that his former employers missed a huge opportunity in the recently concluded summer transfer window by not moving for Gianluigi Donnarumma and letting the goalkeeper move for rivals Manchester City instead. The former Reds midfielder stated he’d “have him tomorrow” at Old Trafford and then went on to ask questions about the reasons behind Pep Guardiola pushing to sign someone who doesn’t fit his usual playing style.
Donnarumma moved to the noisy neighbours in what is a £26 million transfer after he was told that he was surplus to requirements at Paris Saint-Germain, and this is where he went on to pen down a five-year deal at the Etihad, with an option for an extra year, and complete the very late move before the window drew its curtains.
The Manchester Blues went on to move for Donnarumma after they sold Ederson to Fenerbahçe. While on the other side of Manchester, United also found themselves scrambling to bring in a goalkeeper after underwhelming performances from André Onana and Altay Bayindir finally caught up to Amorim, and in the end, the chiefs at Carrington opted to bring in 23-year-old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. But Scholes says that United should instead have gone for a much bigger name than the Belgian.
Scholes wanted Donnarumma at United as he questions Man City over transfer
Speaking about Donnarumma’s move to Man City on The Overlap, Scholes went on to speak on how he thinks United passed up a golden chance by not signing him before he went on to question how he fits the Pep Guardiola mould for the Cityzens.
“I think that’s a really strange signing for Pep. I love the ‘keeper [Donnarumma], I think he’s brilliant and I’d have him at United tomorrow, today, whenever.
“For £40m [the previously reported price for Donnrumma] he’s unbelievable. But for Pep you’ve got to almost be able to play in central midfield as a goalkeeper.
“I think that’s the reason [Luis] Enrique is getting rid of him at PSG, because he’s not great with his feet. I just don’t see him as a City goalkeeper.”
Author Opinion
We know that United were also pushing on the Aston Villa end to bring in Emiliano Martinez and had even agreed terms to bring the Argentine international to M16, but the deal didn’t come through in the end, and they eventually had to pivot to moving for Lammens, who comes to Old Trafford with very high potential but has nowhere near the experience or pedigree that the likes of Donnarumma or Emi boast.
And while this transfer may seem one which is against the usual profiles that City need between the sticks, Guardiola clearly believes in Donnarumma’s qualities, but for United, however, this one is another example of missing out on a top-tier option as league rivals everywhere continue to strengthen their roster.