Paris Saint-Germain are pushing Gianluigi Donnarumma towards the exit this summer. A strong decision, especially since many expected a contract extension as his deal ran out last season. Lucas Chevalier (23) has already arrived from Lille to replace him. After saying goodbye to the fans last Friday—without an official ceremony but in a heartfelt moment at the Parc des Princes—1998 World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry shared some very strong words on this matter while speaking to RMC Sport.
Dugarry: “It perfectly reflects what football has become.”
“I believe this perfectly reflects what football has become. People often accuse players of lacking heart and generosity, of lacking club spirit. Well, now I understand why some players don’t always show it.
When I see the club’s attitude towards this goalkeeper, who admittedly had difficult periods here but was also a key figure in PSG’s recent victories… Honestly, I’m shocked by what happened. Of course, I understand the sporting aspect.”
Dugarry: “Which, for now, is far from being the case.”
“I think things went way too far. He had declared his love for PSG, and he showed it. He went through tough times, fought hard, even got his face smashed against Monaco while always giving everything despite criticism. And now I’m told it’s a purely technical decision—fine.
Apparently Chevalier has better footwork, since Luis Enrique wants goalkeepers to play like sweepers and even be more skilled than outfield players. I hope, for PSG’s sake, that this new goalkeeper will truly be better than Donnarumma. Which, for now, is far from being the case.”
Dugarry: “They didn’t handle Donnarumma well.”
“I think it’s always important to treat your stars properly. That wasn’t the case here. I like when there’s a human side to football. And although PSG have shown good signs of that in recent weeks, with Donnarumma they didn’t handle things properly. I’m shocked.”
PSG perhaps could have done better with Donnarumma, who just won the Champions League and is now being cast aside. It’s a difficult moment. Of course, these situations can leave their mark on players and reinforce the idea that one should not get too attached. Even if Dugarry tends to exaggerate—as he often does.
It’s also important to remember that we don’t know all the details of the negotiations. Maybe Donnarumma’s entourage aimed too high, which pushed PSG to look elsewhere. Or perhaps the club made it clear early on that his time was coming to an end.
Moreover, a club has the right to keep improving, even after winning. One cannot rely solely on past success. Donnarumma has often been criticized, especially for his distribution. Chevalier is a little more comfortable in that area, though he still has room to improve. He also seems capable of playing higher up the pitch defensively, which is important for Luis Enrique.
On the line, there’s no reason to believe Chevalier is behind Donnarumma, even if he still has to prove himself at the very top level. Statistically, he even matched or outperformed the Italian in Ligue 1. But as usual, Dugarry avoided details and focused on strong words to express his frustration.
