Agent: ‘Donnarumma delayed wedding for World Cup, bonded with Haaland’
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s agent reveals the Italy goalkeeper delayed his wedding for the World Cup, while he immediately bonded with Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The Azzurri have failed to qualify for the last two editions of the World Cup and are not yet sure if they’ll participate in the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico either.
They will need to go through the play-offs, facing Northern Ireland and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, but Donnarumma has faith they will be there in the summer.
Donnarumma focus on Italy and Manchester City
“He wanted to get married this summer, but has delayed it all because first there are the international commitments with Italy,” agent Enzo Raiola told Radio Sportiva in Italy.
“He cares a great deal about the World Cup, he asked to remain concentrated and is focusing only on his club and Italy, because he wants to go to that tournament with all his heart.”
This has been an odd year for Donnarumma, who won practically everything at Paris Saint-Germain, only to then be pushed out in the final months of his contract, joining Manchester City.
“It was an intense summer considering what happened in Paris, maybe one day they will explain to us what happened and why they evaluated it that way, but today we enjoy his time at Manchester City,” added Raiola.
“Since Gigio arrived, things have improved in terms of results, and now they are back challenging Arsenal for the top of the table. The first six months have gone well, both he and the club are happy.”
Donnarumma has particularly bonded with Manchester City teammate Haaland, the two often joking on social media as well as on the pitch.
“From the first day he had a bond with him, but they were both under our agency before that, so they had crossed paths before,” noted Raiola.
“They have very similar personalities, too. They are two great guys, and that is the main element. Guardiola is also one of the top coaches of modern football, so he needs people skills, and knows how to handle players.”