Manchester United are not the only team making a potential goalkeeper change ahead of the weekend’s derby.
Manchester United, who are higher in the standings, will play Manchester City at The Etihad this coming Saturday. Pep Guardiola is under increasing criticism after City’s two straight losses.
On the day of the transfer deadline, both teams acquired goalkeepers; United acquired Belgian prospect Senne Lammens.
United must decide between Lammens and Altay Bayindir after Andre Onana was loaned to Trabzonspor.
This summer, City signed two goalkeepers. After spending £31 million to acquire James Trafford, they have now added Gianluigi Donnarumma to their roster.
Manchester United was linked to Donnarumma, but the Red Devils had little interest in covering the former PSG star’s hefty salary.
City were keen to pay up and could throw Donnarumma straight into the derby at The Etihad. But he will do so on the back of a disappointing game.
Gianluigi Donnarumma slammed for Italy performance
After losing 2-0 against Israel in qualifying, which would have put them six points behind the leaders, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s Italy were in danger of being eliminated from the World Cup.
After a thrilling match that concluded in a 5-4 loss to Italy due to a stoppage time winner, Gennaro Gattuso’s team still had a chance to qualify for USA 2026.
However, when a goalie gives up four goals, it usually means that something went horribly wrong, and Donnarumma didn’t perform well at all.
When he tried to punch a corner clear, the ball looped over his head, allowing one of his teammates to head into an own goal. He was personally responsible for one of the goals.
Donnarumma’s performance was slammed by the Italian media, with low player ratings, and one cutting assessment claiming he proved PSG right to sell him.
- Il Messaggero called him ‘unrecognisable’ and graded him 4.5/10.
- Corriere della Sera marked Donnarumma at 5/10, adding “Not his usual Gigio.”
- Leggo rated him 5/10: “Not one of his best performances. He’s especially clumsy when coming out.”
- Virgil Sport also gave him a 5/10, adding: “immediately makes a mistake with his feet that proves Luis Enrique right and worries Guardiola.”
- TMW generously gave Donnarumma a 5.5/10, noting, “He takes a while to get used to the game and takes a few risks early on.”
Senne Lammens has chance to outshine Gianluigi Donnarumma
No club in the UK attracts as much interest as Manchester United, and the move for Senne Lammens has received more radio and television talk than City’s move for Gianluigi Donnarumma, the winner of the Champions League.
Just as Ruben Amorim must choose between Lammens and Bayindir, Pep Guardiola must decide whether to play Donnarumma or Trafford.
Whoever begins will be under pressure and in the public eye, and Manchester United has an opportunity to highlight Donnarumma’s shortcomings.
Although the Italian is an excellent goalie, Manchester United has already suffered this season as a result of his terrible cornerback error against Israel. The opportunity may present itself.
One way or another, the derby narrative will be spun by the goalkeepers. And it could be Donnarumma and Guardiola who face the most questions at full-time.
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