Gianluigi Donnarumma is ‘100% not the right goalkeeper’ for Man City, says French football expert ahead of deadline day transfer KIK BALL

Gianluigi Donnarumma is not the right profile of goalkeeper for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, according to French football expert Julien Laurens.

The Citizens are reportedly closing in on the signing of the 26-year-old from Paris Saint-Germain after agreeing to sell goalkeeper Ederson to Fenerbahce.

It is understood that Donnarumma will undergo a medical in his native Italy ahead of signing a long-term contract and finalising his deadline day move to Man City.

The four-time Ligue 1 champion is then set to arrive in Manchester after the international break, having been called up to represent Italy in 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel this week.

Donnarumma is widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in world football and he inspired PSG to their first-ever Champions League triumph last season, with Luis Enrique’s side thumping Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.

However, French football expert Laurens claims that Donnarumma is not so comfortable with the ball at his feet and his distribution is “not good enough” to play for a team managed by Guardiola, who deploys a system that relies on having a strong ball-playing goalkeeper.

‘Donnarumma is not the perfect guy for Pep’, says Laurens

Speaking about Donnarumma on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk Podcast, Laurens said: “Is he the right fit for Manchester City? The answer is: 100% he isn’t.

“On saves – him and Thibaut Courtois, there are no goalkeepers better. Maybe that is enough for Guardiola to say he wants him.

“But to play for Guardiola you have to be good with your feet. If you’re not good with the ball at your feet, you are not a Guardiola goalkeeper.

“His distribution is not good enough for a Guardiola team, and his other weakness is he does not come for the ball in the air, he doesn’t like coming for crosses and corners.

“If there is one league in the world where you have to be brave like that, it’s the Premier League. I cannot see how Guardiola thinks ‘this is the perfect guy for me’.”

Donnarumma is expected to battle for regular starts at Man City with summer signing James Trafford, who has already made one costly mistake leading to a goal since arriving from Burnley last month.

Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany recently told Sports Mole that Guardiola should not lose faith in Trafford just yet and he believes that Donnarumma is likely to make similar errors should he complete his transfer to Man City before the deadline.

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