After Euro 2020, which was played in 2021 for anyone who wasn’t paying attention, Gianliugi Donarumma was on top of the world. The Italian national team won the tournament, and he was certainly one of the key figures of the team that summer. His performance ensured him a lucrative deal essentially with any of the top clubs in Europe with his already second contract with AC Milan being up that summer. Donarumma decided to join the superteam that was being formed in the capital of France at Paris Saint Germain. Fast forward just one year from that magical 2021 summer and a lot of people are claiming that Gianluigi Donarumma has fallen off a cliff. Judging from his performances, and the results that his teams have had when he’s on the pitch its hard to argue with those comments.
Italy will not be playing in the World Cup in Qatar this December after surprisingly being knocked out in the first leg of the European second chance qualifiers for the World Cup. PSG on the other hand is still not closer to hoisting a Champions League trophy. In fact, their last elimination against eventual champions Real Madrid was largely blamed on Donarumma, and his mishaps in goal. Although that play with Karim Benzema would’ve probably been called a foul if it wasn’t Real Madrid who where on the other side of the pitch. In any case, it’s safe to say Gianluigi Donarumma has seen better days. Can he bounce back from this slump? First we need to look at what got him into this slump in the first place.
Gianluigi Donarumma’s Slump Can Largely Be Blammed On Keylor Navas
There’s no reason to sugarcoat this one of the main reasons why Gianluigi Donarumma seems to be declining is the lack of playing time. That problem can be directly attributed to a goalkeeper that I’m a big fan of in Keylor Navas. When Donarumma signed with PSG for big money it was largely understood that he was going to be the number one option for the French squad. The only problem with that idea was that the team already had a number one option at goalkeeper in Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas. Even though Keylor was expected to be transferred some place that still hasn’t happened to this day.
The lack of playing time is one of the things that has lead to Donarumma’s decline for sure, but we’ll get to that soon enough. Apparently the high ranking folks at PSG underestimated Keylor Navas’ value to the PSG lockeroom. With an argentine head coach, Lionel Messi coming into the team and a very strong veteran Latin base it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that the lockeroom was going to be behind Navas, and not the young italian kid. Yes, I’m playing the culture card here, and going into what really happens in lockerooms. Most coaches will taken the veteran option when it comes to picking a goalkeeper 9 times out of 10. This happens at every level! It’s not that Keylor is doing anything wrong, but his presence has certainly hampered Donarumma’s confidence.
The Rust Is Showing
As I mentioned one of the reasons why we can blame the decline on Keylor Navas is literally the fact that Donarumma isn’t playing league games. So what Pochettino tried to do last year was use him for cup and Champions League games. As previously mentioned he was heavily blamed for a particular goal in that game where Benzema takes the ball away from him as he’s trying to dribble out. Something that he’d done on a consistent basis many times before in his career. I think a lot of the issues that we’re seeing are just timing issues, and problems with dealing with the speed of the game. The speed of the game issue is actually one that I believe the entire PSG squad deals with when they play Champions League games.
Here’s a team that for the most part really doesn’t have competition at their level in league play. Yes, it was only a few seasons ago that they were not able to win a league title that when to Lille of all teams. To me that’s just another example of what I’m saying. The team essentially coasts through the league season and they can’t get in rhythm to face the tougher competition that they meet in the Champions League knock out stages. Going back to Donarumma that lack of rhythm and that “rust” that a lot of players experience when they are not playing regularly was on display this season. How is going to be able to fix that issue?
Is A Transfer The Best Thing For Him? – Would That Even Be Possible?
At this point I do believe that the best course of action is a transfer. Now, the thing is who should be the goalkeeper who should be transferred? I’ve been genuinely surprised as I’m sure others have as well to see that Keylor Navas is effectively still on the roster. Again, this is something that has already been talked about in this article. There’s no denying the fact that Keylor can still hold his own even if he is getting up there in age which is a reality. Also, as previously stated the fact that it was a very latin roster with an argentine head coach didn’t help Gianluigi Donarumma at all. It’s not my intention to place the race card here, particularly since Keylor Navas has been on the wrong end of these types of issues for most of his career.
They way that myself, and virtually just about everyone else in the know sees it, it’s going to be easier for Keylor to be the one transferred. Things didn’t make sense though when in the same season that the team brings on Donarumma they extend Keylor Navas’ contract. It’s understandable that money is not an issue at PSG and they can do what they want in that regard. However, the effects of the move have not been positive of an Gianluigi who is constantly on the outside looking in. These odd decisions that have been a constant at PSG throughout the Qatari reign are one of the reasons why it’s been incredibly difficult for managers to create good locker room chemistry. That shows up on the field sooner or later.
Are Some Of The National Team Woes His Fault?
When Italy fail to qualify directly to the World Cup and they’re drawn in the weird foursome with Portugal everyone and their mother expected Italy to face off against Portugal for a spot in the World Cup. North Macedonia put a wrench in that by eliminating Italy with late score in their winner take all game before the Italians were able to face off against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. I’ve long thought that Donarumma could’ve done a bit more in that late goal. To say that he’s the reason that Italy isn’t going to the World Cup is going way too far. It’s no secret that the team peaked at the Euros, and then totally dipped in the World Cup qualifiers.
The thing Gianliugi Donarumma, and plenty of his teammates on that Italy squad is that they weren’t playing as regularly at the club level. If we had to point out one thing that has lead to what we could call “poor” play from Gianluigi it’s a lack of confidence. In certain cases I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s suffering from a lack of confidence. I would just say he doesn’t have the same confidence that he once did. So has his play dipped, and did that contribute to Italy not being in the World Cup? That’s a possibility, but he’s in no way the sole culprit.
Should He Look To Abandon The Sweeper Keeper Playing Style?
For goalkeepers big mistakes in high profile matches are usually what they’re going to be remembered for, at least until they can erase that mistake from the memory of the fans. The bad part about all of this is that if you don’t get a chance to step on a large stage again your legacy may be marked by those mistakes in the eyes of the public. Just ask former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. Gianluigi Donarumma is going through something similar thanks to the goal he gave up to Karim Benezema. This has prompted many people to question if he should give up his sweeper keeper style. Going back to being more of a between the sticks keeper which he was earlier in his career.
The problem with being a sweeper keeper is that you have to time your anticipations just right. Otherwise you’re going to be having to take balls out of the net on a consistent basis. The biggest issue for Donarumma is that he literally doesn’t play enough to be able to get into a rhythm to where he can time those runs right. What we’re seeing is that he’s holding on to the ball too long, and he’s making mistakes that he didn’t necessarily make in his best days at AC Milan, and the national team. This timing issue is making it even harder for any manager that reaches PSG to feel confident about putting him on the pitch. Which, ironically is what he so desperately needs to get the timing down. For now it could be a good idea to play it safer for sure.
What Could The Future Hold For Gianluigi Donarumma If Things Stay The Same?
You have to think that with the amount of money that Gianluigi Donarumma is getting paid, and his age compared to Keylor Navas’ he’s eventually going to be given the starting role at PSG. The problem is, it’s anyone’s guess at this point how long that could take. It could happen as early as this season or maybe he’s still waiting in the wings for a couple more years. What happens if that’s the case? Even if he wins the starting role what does success for him at PSG look like? Even though the team is an all star team most of the players on the squad are past their prime.
Even if he comes in and plays well if the team can’t get over the hump in the Champions League what’s that going to mean for his career? Money is certainly an important part of a players’ career. Right now at PSG that’s something that Donarumma has covered. However at his age he could still play for a solid 15 more years at a high level. He may have to make a decision on what he values more at this point in his career. Getting the big check every month or looking for an opportunity to be a part of a team where he’s guaranteed a starting role and he can actually compete regularly in big games? If things stay the same and he doesn’t play much it’s going to be really tough for him to get back in rhythm.
Is Gianluigi Donarumma Fixable Conclusion
It’s amazing to the think that this guy is 23 years old! Just on that alone there’s no way that anyone can come out and say that the answer to is Gianluigi Donarumma fixable is a no. At 23 he could potentially wait out Keylor Navas for maybe a year. As I mentioned though this was a starting goalkeeper and in many seasons top player for AC Milan. He’s the starting goalkeeper for Italy. Does he really feel like it’s a good idea just wait it out and ride the bench a whole year? Particularly taking into a account that by the time he does get granted the staring role Messi may no longer be there, Neymar may be gone as well. As strange as that may seem that could actually be a positive.
If he can’t beat out Keylor Navas I do think that the best option for his career would be to seek a loan out. I’m not sure if Milan would take him back, but there are certainly teams that would take him in a heartbeat. The salary, and the value that PSG has basically bestowed on him may be playing against him though. Money is not issue for management, and they may be perfectly fine with him sitting behind Keylor another year. For Donarumma, and for those of us who are fans of the game that’s essentially the worst thing that can happen. This kid needs to be out there playing every weekend. So does Keylor Navas still, so that’s quite a dilemma.
