MY ACCOUNT
Gianluigi Donnarumma hailed the “perfect year” after Paris Saint-Germain and Milan won their respective leagues, but the goalkeeper has no regrets after leaving the Rossoneri.
Donnarumma was met with widespread condemnation by the Milan supporters after not renewing his contract, before opting to join PSG on a free transfer ahead of the 2021-22 season following his successful Euro 2020 campaign with Italy.
The 23-year-old kept five clean sheets in his 17 Ligue 1 appearances as he shared the goalkeeper duties with Keylor Navas, with PSG securing a record-equalling 10th Ligue 1 title.
Milan, meanwhile, edged out Inter to secure their first Serie A crown in 11 years, much to the delight of Donnarumma.
“After winning the title, the perfect year was the Scudetto of Milan and I congratulate them, they did an incredible job and I’m proud of them,” said Donnarumma in a news conference on Sunday.
“I have no regret, I’m happy with what Milan have done and I wrote to all my team-mates to congratulate them.”
Donnarumma was also praised the performance of fellow goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was on top form to help Real Madrid to a 1-0 Champions League final victory over Liverpool on Saturday.
Courtois pulled off nine stops in the final, the most on record since Opta began recording data in 2003-04, as Madrid secured a 14th European Cup, more than double any other side.
“I saw the match and he played an incredible match, he kept Real Madrid standing until the end,” Donnarumma said of Courtois.
“It made me feel a bit like we could have been there, but unfortunately football is like that. They won and I congratulate Courtois, he made great interventions.”
Donnarumma’s focus now turns to the ‘Finalissima’ between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, in a meeting between the European Championship and Copa America winners.
Italy defeated England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley before missing out on World Cup qualification for Qatar after play-off defeat to North Macedonia.
“We must not forget what we did at the European Championship, this is a fantastic group and they gave us an incredible result,” Donnarumma added.
“The disappointment of not qualifying for the World Cup is still fresh, we are still disappointed. It hurts, some guys will no longer be with us but we young people must bring Italy back to where it deserves.”
Roberto Mancini will have Giorgio Chiellini to call upon for one final game before his international retirement, and Donnarumma says Italy will miss the experienced centre-back.
“We will miss everything about Giorgio, both on and off the pitch he was a point of reference for Italian and world football, especially for us young people,” he continued.
“He gave us great help, now we want to give him great joy. He will be missed on the pitch, he is truly fantastic and will always give you a hand, even just with a simple word.”
