In a beIN Sport report, Gianluigi Donnarumma, 25-year-old goalkeeper for Paris Saint-Germain, is in the spotlight. With his big heart and big character, he talks about his beginnings and his attachment to his origins. He also talks about the criticism that can affect him. He also insists that his dream is to win the Champions League. Here is our full transcript:
Donnarumma “I’m very nice off the pitch. But on the pitch I’m very angry”
About Vesuvius
Yes, it’s my country. It holds a very special place for me. Every afternoon after school, my friends and I would go and play, and we always wanted to be the goalkeeper. One day, I came home with a big knee injury, a lot of blood, and my father gave me a kick (laughs).
A golden character
I’m very nice off the pitch. But on the pitch I’m very angry, I’m a lion, and that’s very important to help the team, to have confidence, to give confidence to my team.
Donnarumma “We always give everything for our team”
On his scar
We always give everything for our team. Whether it’s my face or my knee, for me it’s important that the ball doesn’t cross the line.
I know everyone in my neighborhood. When I go down, we go and say hello to everyone. When I go over there, when I go to my country, my behavior is the same as before. I play Playstation with my friends, I go and have a drink at the bar, these are normal things. The important thing for me in being a champion is normality.
On his first president who launched him
He’s my president, for me, it was a very special person who launched me. When I look back on it, it’s a moving moment. I’ll never be able to forget it, and for me to keep the moments I spent there is very moving.
When we played against other teams, nobody believed I was from 1999. That’s incredible because I’ve always been very tall. Nobody understood that. When others took penalties against me, it was harder than with any other goalkeeper.
Donnarumma “He was always behind me, she gave me a lot of strength”
His first coach
He’s my first coach, the first one who believed in me. I go home at 8 p.m. with him. The biggest regret I have in my head is that he didn’t see me play in Serie A. I’m sure he’s proud of me.
Mauro Bianchessi (in charge of recruitment and training at AC Milan from 2006 to 2017)
Yes, he was the first Milan player to wear the shirt. When you’re a kid and someone professional comes home with the jersey and the number 1 I think that’s the most important thing. I went there and he was always behind me, it gave me a lot of strength. I have an important relationship with him.
Donnarumma “There are all the things on social networks. It’s not easy, because sometimes it affects you”
Antonio goalkeeping coach (referring to the criticism of Donnarumma)
A great character. When people talk about me and what I do, nobody really knows what a goalkeeper’s job is. That’s what I said after Liverpool too. It’s the truth. I think that to be a great champion, you have to have character.
It’s not always easy, there are all the things on social networks. It’s not easy, because sometimes it affects you. But the important thing is to work, work, work to be even stronger.
What’s the difference between the first leg in Liverpool, when everyone’s mad at you, and the second leg, when you’re the big hero?
Ah, the day after the day after the first leg, the truth is that I already know there was a second leg. We played a great game and we’re going to win. In my mind, everyone, not just me, is very confident. I think our mentality made the difference in the second leg.
Antonio, who tells him “for me, you’re always number one”
Thanks, do I have the number on my back? (Laughs) Before, I was number 99, now I’m number 1. All my former coaches had faith in me, they gave me a lot of confidence and that’s important. My father, my mother, my brother, my sister too. My wife, my son too. Everyone, my whole family gives me a lot of strength. Especially in difficult times, and that’s important.
Donnarumma “There’s one thing I’m missing, winning the Champions League”
Marco, who is reporting the story and a friend of Donnarumma’s
Yes, I have a very special relationship with him. He’s a great, great friend. He helped me a lot in Paris, because when you come here for me, it’s the first time in France. He helped me a lot. He helped my family a lot. Thank you, he’s been a great friend to me.
Winning the Champions League
I hope, but I’m missing one thing: winning the Champions League. I hope, and I give everything for the club to win the Champions League.
