Donnarumma shines at Man City, PSG faces criticism.
PSG sold Donnarumma for 27 million euros and spent 55 million on Lucas Chevalier. While Donnarumma conceded only 4 goals in 8 games for Man City, Chevalier conceded 13 goals in 12 games – this sparked controversy.
Just eight games, four goals conceded. In Paris, his successor has conceded 13 goals in 12 games. These contrasting numbers are enough to fuel controversy surrounding Paris Saint-Germain's decision to part ways with Gianluigi Donnarumma, especially given the Italian goalkeeper's impressive start at Manchester City.
Transfer developments and decisions
Donnarumma spent many years with PSG and contributed to the club's first UEFA Champions League title in the 2024-25 season. Entering the final year of his contract but failing to reach an extension agreement, PSG decided to sell him to Manchester City for €27 million, while also spending €55 million to bring in Lucas Chevalier as his replacement.
After arriving at Etihad, Donnarumma quickly adapted under Pep Guardiola. Conversely, in Paris, fans were unhappy with Chevalier, even though PSG were leading their Champions League group after the first three matches of the season.
Tactical analysis: two goalkeeper requirements, two different contexts
In principle, Pep Guardiola's system requires the goalkeeper to participate in build-up play from the back, positioning himself high up the pitch to help control the space behind the attacking line. In that context, Donnarumma's early stability in terms of goals conceded shows that his adaptation process is on the right track.
At PSG, Luis Enrique's philosophy also leaned towards control and build-up play from the first line, but the transition period itself often carried risks: a new goalkeeper – Chevalier – needed time to adapt to the defensive structure, team spacing, and pressing mechanism. When errors occurred, the common consequence was an increase in the number of goals conceded before performance stabilized.
The tactical emphasis therefore lies in continuity: Man City is an established machine, where the new goalkeeper inherits a coherent operating framework. PSG is a rebuilding version, where the goalkeeper must both learn the role and get used to the pressure of replacing a player while simultaneously winning the European championship with the team.
Key statistics
According to statistics cited in news reports, Chevalier have conceded more than twice as many goals as Donnarumma at club level since the start of the season.
| Player | current club | Transfer fee | Match (2024-25 season) | Conceded goal | Goals conceded/match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gianluigi Donnarumma | Manchester City | 27 million euros | 8 | 4 | 0.50 |
| Lucas Chevalier | Paris Saint-Germain | 55 million euros | 12 | 13 | 1.08 |
Note the context: the number of goals conceded is influenced by the quality of the opponent, defensive structure, and the stage of the fixture list. However, the current disparity is large enough to be a focal point of debate.
Reactions from the French press and fans.
French newspapers, including L'Équipe and Le Parisien, criticized the decision to sell Donnarumma to make way for Chevalier. One article asserted that Donnarumma is currently the best goalkeeper in the world and that PSG would not have won the Champions League last season without him. Luis Enrique was accused of giving the "green light" to the pursuit of Chevalier throughout the 2024-25 season and deliberately pushing Donnarumma out of his plans, thus paving the way for him to join Manchester City.
In the Parc des Princes stands, the wave of skepticism intensified as Chevalier's immediate performance fell short of expectations. Conversely, Donnarumma's consistent form at the Etihad Stadium only intensified the comparison.
Impact on the race and prospects
Despite public pressure, PSG has maintained its competitive position both domestically and in Europe and is leading its Champions League group after three matches. The question for Luis Enrique is not only about having faith in Chevalier, but also about stabilizing the defensive structure to minimize goals conceded.
For Man City, Donnarumma's low-scoring start reinforces the defensive line's confidence during the points-gaining phase and the crucial stage of the season. If he maintains his current form, this transition will be seen as a prime example of contextual differences – where the same goalkeeper can make contrasting impressions depending on the surrounding system.
Preliminary conclusion: the early facts favor Donnarumma. But the season is long, and the effect of a personnel decision will only truly become clear once PSG and Man City have completed their Champions League campaigns.
