Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has expressed doubts about Gianluigi Donnarumma’s compatibility with Manchester City under Pep Guardiola’s system.
Mikel questioned whether the Italian goalkeeper fits the tactical approach favored by Guardiola, particularly the requirement for goalkeepers to be comfortable with playing out from the back.
Donnarumma, 26, was listed for transfer during the summer window, with a reported asking price of around £26 million.
Widely regarded as one of the elite goalkeepers globally, the Italian played a significant role in Paris Saint-Germain’s domestic dominance over the years.
Once he became available, Manchester City quickly acted to secure his signature.
However, despite his reputation as a top-tier shot-stopper, some observers remain skeptical about how well he will adapt to the team’s style of play — and Mikel is among those with reservations.
“How is he going to fit in this Manchester City side because we all know that Pep Guardiola goalkeepers have to be able to play in the midfield as well,” Obi Mikel said on his The Obi One Podcast.
“I wonder how Donnarumma is going to do that because we all know he’s not the best with his feet.
“I wonder how he’s going to fit in with this Pep Guardiola side. Is this Pep Guardiola now trying to change the way he plays? I don’t know. But let’s wait and see.”
The Italian goalkeeper is likely to be in goal when Man City take on Manchester United in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
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