Gianluigi Donnarumma, Paris Saint-Germain’s 25-year-old goalkeeper, spoke to TeamSerieAfr about the famous “maybe” foul against Karim Benzema (then Real Madrid striker) in the Champions League Round of 16 comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2022.
Donnarumma “It’s still in my throat!
“Gigio, can I tell you something? I think Benzema was at fault.
No, forget it… Then I’ll tell you something, I made a mistake myself. I made a mistake, I should have stayed down (smiles).
Why am I telling you this? As long as he doesn’t call a foul and he scores, the referee will never in his life cancel the goal at the Bernabeu. With the whole stadium in an uproar, never in a million years would the referee cancel the goal. The only thing I should have done was stay down. It still sticks in my throat!”
Donnarumma’s feelings are understandable. It’s probably a bit of a foul, even if many observers have managed to pretend it isn’t, but the referee is under pressure from the famous Bernabeu. Where refereeing decisions are often “influenced”.
By staying on the ground right away, the Italian would have had a better chance of getting the referee’s whistle. Even if this wasn’t a guarantee. But by continuing to play, the goalkeeper “encouraged” the game. That’s also the experience to take. Even if the referee could also have simply whistled for a foul, which seems clear enough.
