Gianluigi Donnarumma’s Controversy Sparks Widespread Debate Across Italy Following the Major Fiasco

From Manchester City to the Italian national team, Gianluigi Donnarumma (26 years old) briefly switched jerseys this November. He faced off against his club teammate Erling Haaland, captain of Norway, on Sunday. Before the match, Haaland praised Donnarumma, stating, “Has my opinion on Donnarumma changed after playing with him? No, I still believe he is among the best, along with Courtois. I have only compliments for him. It will be strange playing against him, but it’s just 90 minutes of work. My goal is to win the match, and I look forward to that challenge.”

Donnarumma’s Tough Evening with Italy

In a crucial match for World Cup 2026 qualification, Norway’s Haaland did not hold back, scoring twice in a 4-1 victory over Italy, who will now have to go through playoffs again. Donnarumma, referred to as “Gigio,” was left disappointed, conceding all four goals in the second half after Italy had taken the lead in the 11th minute through Esposito. Antonio Nusa struck first for Norway in the 63rd minute, followed by Haaland in the 78th and 79th minutes, with Jørgen Strand Larsen sealing the deal in stoppage time. Italian press noted that Donnarumma was unsupported by a shaky defense.

The Corriere della Sera rated him a 6, stating, “His main opponent in the first half was the rain, which was more relentless than Haaland and his teammates. In the second half, as the rain stopped, he couldn’t avoid conceding four goals.” Tuttosport gave him a 5.5, mentioning, “In the first half, he was mostly a spectator, and in the second, it felt like a horror movie with several close calls before conceding four goals.” Sky Italia rated him a 5, saying, “He was caught off guard by the first real shot on target from Nusa in the 65th minute. Then, Haaland found the net with a volley late in the game.”

“Gigio” is Disheartened

Shooting a similar score, Corriere dello Sport expressed, “He had a quiet first half as Norway rarely approached his area, but the second half posed challenges as goals came from Nusa, Haaland, and Strand Larsen.” Journalist Michele Tossani noted, “I don’t think Donnarumma is the problem for the national team. There are more pressing issues.“ Fans are divided over their captain, with some claiming he’s the only one who understands the significance of the jersey, while others argue he “concedes too many goals”.

After the match, an upset Donnarumma spoke to Rai, saying, “In the first half, we showed we can compete with anyone. After going down 2-1, we lost focus, and that can’t happen again. We need to regain our confidence. We must qualify for the World Cup in March. I apologize to the supporters; they were fantastic tonight. I believe that together, we can make it to the World Cup.” It’s clear that a strong performance from “Gigio” will be essential for their chances.