Italian Press Push Guardiola to Sign Donnarumma After Trafford Error in Spurs Defeat

Pep Guardiola has been urged by the Italian media to move decisively for Gianluigi Donnarumma following Manchester City’s 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, a match in which James Trafford’s costly mistake became the talking point.

The 21-year-old, making just his second start for City, gifted Spurs their second goal after a risky pass on the edge of his box was intercepted by João Palhinha, who finished clinically. Gazzetta dello Sport’s headline the following morning read bluntly: “Guardiola, what are you waiting for to sign Gigio?”

Donnarumma, 26, has already bid farewell to Paris Saint-Germain after being pushed out following their Champions League triumph. According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG are demanding around €50 million (£43m/$58m), though the eventual fee is expected to be lower, with personal terms already agreed.

City only brought Trafford back this summer in a £27m move from Burnley, where he had returned after developing through the club’s academy. The plan was for him to compete with Ederson, but should Donnarumma arrive, Trafford may find himself relegated to a back-up role.

The Italian international’s reputation needs little introduction: Euro 2020 winner, PSG’s Champions League hero, and widely considered one of the world’s most commanding goalkeepers. Italian reports stressed that Donnarumma would not have committed the same passing error and claimed he is “more than just a shadow” hovering over Guardiola’s squad.

Much may depend on Ederson’s future, with City potentially needing to sanction his sale before making a big-money move. The transfer window closes on September 1, meaning any deal would need to be finalised quickly. City face Brighton on August 31, and by then, Guardiola could have a new number one in place as the champions look to recover from the Spurs setback and replicate the sharp form shown in their opening-day win at Wolves.

For fans, the next week promises to be decisive in determining whether Donnarumma becomes the long-term solution between the posts at the Etihad.

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