‘It hurts to be on the bench’: PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma admits his battle with Keylor Navas for the starting spot has affected him, with Italy No 1 having made just five Ligue 1 appearances so far this season
- Gianluigi Donnarumma admits his battle with Keylor Navas has ‘disturbed’ him
- The 22-year-old has been limited to just five Ligue 1 appearances so far
- He joined PSG as a free agent from the back of winning the Euros with Italy
Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has admitted his battle with Keylor Navas for the number one spot has ‘disturbed’ him.
The 22-year-old joined the French side as a free agent during the summer but playing time has come few and far between so far this season.
Donnarumma has played just five of PSG’s 13 league games this season and two from four games in the Champions League, as he continues to play second fiddle to Navas.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has admitted he has found it tough to sometimes be on the bench
On the rivalry with Navas, Donnarumma told TNT Sport: ‘It has no effect on my performances, but it ‘disturbs’ me. It’s not easy, because I was used to always starting and sometimes it hurts to be on the bench.
‘But I’m sure the situation will be resolved.’
Before his move to PSG, Donnarumma played for AC Milan – where he made his debut at the age of just 16 and 242 days, making him the second youngest goalkeeper to start in Italian football history.
He played an integral role in Italy’s Euro 2020 victory earlier this summer and he picked up the Player of The Tournament award.
Donnarumma was the hero when Italy beat England in the Euro 2020 final this summer
Keylor Navas has been Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred first choice so far this season
Earlier this season, there were talks of Donnarumma wanting to leave the club due to a lack of playing time but his agent Mino Raiola shut those rumours down when he told Rai Sport: ‘There’s no fight between Gigio and Navas at PSG, Gigio will play’.
Three-time Champions League winner Navas has been the preferred choice but Mauricio Pochettino may well keep rotating keepers to accommodate for Donnarumma – who is amongst one of the highest rated youngsters in football.
PSG are top of Ligue 1 after dropping just five points from 39 and they will take-on Manchester City in the Champions League after the international break.
