Iconic Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has revealed that he unsuccessfully tried to convince Gianluigi Donnarumma to approve a move to Old Trafford.
Donnarumma impresses against United on his debut
During the summer transfer window, United were heavily linked to Donnarumma as it became increasingly clear that he had no future at Paris Saint-Germain.
Donnarumma helped PSG win a treble, coming up with a number of crucial saves, especially in the Champions League. However, contract renewal talks between his camp and the Ligue 1 giants failed to materialise and he eventually found himself frozen out of the team.
Despite interest from United, it was City who won the race for the Italy international.
The shot-stopper made his bow on Sunday, as City easily beat Ruben Amorim’s men 3-0 at the Etihad. Donnarumma made a superb save in the second half to deny Bryan Mbeumo what seemed like a certain goal.
Overall, it was an impressive debut, and no doubt some United fans were left ruing what might have been, especially in contrast to Altay Bayindir’s catastrophic display.
According to Schmeichel, he tried to persuade Donnarumma to join United, but his efforts ultimately fell short.
Schmeichel makes transfer revelation regarding Donnarumma
The 1999 treble winner told Premier League Productions [as quoted by The Mirror], “Donnarumma plays his first game and all the time he’s doing that, talking to them, so they’ve brought in more leadership. I’ve followed them [PSG] in the Champions League and I’ve spoken to him a lot of times, he speaks English by the way.”
“I only managed to persuade him to come into an interview one time. We headed back to the studio, I asked my first question and he started to answer in Italian, and I had no clue!”
“Over the last season I kept saying to him, ‘We want you at Man United,’ and he said, ‘I’d love to come to England.’”
The presenter joked that Schmeichel was an unsuccessful agent. The Dane answered, “I did. So I went to him, ‘What are you doing here, you should be in the other goal [for United],’ but he said, ‘I’m very, very happy here.’”
“He showed it, he gave it to the team today, didn’t he.”
United are back in action on Saturday when they host Chelsea, who are still unbeaten this term.
Featured image Alex Grimm via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
