Gianluigi Donnarumma Causes Turmoil at Manchester City

Tonight at 8:30 PM IST, Manchester City will face Fulham in the 14th round of the Premier League. Barring any surprises, Gianluigi Donnarumma (26 years old) is expected to start against the Cottagers. However, the Italian international needs to be cautious, as he is just one yellow card away from becoming the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to be suspended for accumulating five yellow cards, as reported by The Sun. The former Paris Saint-Germain player has received three bookings for dissent and one for time-wasting, all in just 10 appearances in the league (conceding 8 goals and achieving 4 clean sheets).

When asked about his goalkeeper yesterday, Pep Guardiola simply said: “He has a lot, that’s how it is.” It’s clear that the Spanish coach would prefer to have his 1.96m player available, especially with several important matches on the horizon. If Gigio is suspended, the Sky Blues’ coach has already indicated that James Trafford would take over. Like Donnarumma, the English goalkeeper was signed during the last transfer window, with Manchester City spending €30 million to bring him back from Burnley.

Two Goalkeepers Looking to Leave This Winter

Trafford is eager to advance his career at the Etihad Stadium, especially since Ederson was on his way out and Stefan Ortega was not a significant competitor. The situation for Gigio has been different, as City took the opportunity to sign him when PSG opened the door for his departure. This has been unfortunate for 23-year-old Trafford, who played in the early matches before being replaced by Donnarumma (14 matches across all competitions). Trafford has been part of 6 matches in total (conceding 7 goals and recording 2 clean sheets), which is not enough for someone aiming to be part of the 2026 World Cup with the England squad.

In October, the Manchester Evening News discussed a potential winter transfer for Trafford. This rumor seems to be solidifying, as the Daily Mail reports that Trafford wants to leave to improve his chances. Newcastle has been mentioned as a possible destination. Similarly, Stefan Ortega (33 years old), who has moved from being Ederson’s backup to the fourth choice behind Marcus Bettinelli (the third choice), also wants to depart. He is participating in training but is no longer selected for matchday squads. Donnarumma’s arrival has significantly impacted several players at City.