Is Gianluigi Donnarumma at risk of losing his spot? Maresca speaks plainly

Gianluigi Donnarumma is back in the spotlight. The Italian national team goalkeeper’s recent poor performances are beginning to weigh on Enzo Maresca’s decisions: his backup, Geronimo Rulli, is starting to make a case for himself after leading Brighton to a penalty shootout victory over Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

The Manchester City manager confirmed the former Milan and PSG player’s status during a press conference, sending a clear message: “Rulli is doing very well, but he knows his role perfectly. No player is irreplaceable, and no one is untouchable, but for now, it’s Donnarumma plus ten other players.”

The Campania-born goalkeeper’s rough patch began on October 14 in the Champions League, during the 4-2 loss to PSG at the Etihad Stadium. That evening, City found themselves down by three goals in just half an hour. Donnarumma, who wasn’t positioned perfectly, was caught off guard at the near post by a shot from over 25 meters by his former teammate Doué, who opened the scoring. Then came Dembelé’s second goal and Vitinha’s 3-0 strike in the 32nd minute, in a match where the goalkeeper didn’t shine even on the third goal. The struggles continued in league play as well. Donnarumma failed to impress against either Ipswich or AEK Athens.

On Saturday, October 24, the 2-1 loss on the road to Aston Villa proved costly—the team’s first Premier League defeat after seven consecutive wins. The former Milan player didn’t look flawless on Nicolas Jackson’s first goal and let a shot down the middle slip under his body on the second. Between the Champions League and the league, the goalkeeper had conceded 9 goals in 4 matches, and on social media, thousands of Citizens fans had expressed doubts and strong criticism of him.