‘Team Is Bigger Than Individual’: PSG Explain Ruthless Decision to Let Donnarumma Join Man City

Paris Saint-Germain have officially lifted the lid on why Gianluigi Donnarumma’s time in Paris ended abruptly this summer, despite the Italian goalkeeper having celebrated a Champions League triumph with the club just four months earlier.

The 26-year-old shot-stopper, who joined PSG on a free transfer from AC Milan in 2021, was once heralded as the long-term guardian of the Parc des Princes goal.

 However, after four seasons in the French capital, Donnarumma found himself displaced by the arrival of Lucas Chevalier, the highly rated 23-year-old Frenchman recruited from Lille for €40 million plus bonuses.

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For PSG’s hierarchy, the decision was not simply about form. According to sporting advisor Luís Campos, the main stumbling block was Donnarumma’s contract demands. “The team’s interests are more important than any individual,” Campos told French media. 

“Gianluigi Donnarumma expected a salary at the level of the old PSG. Currently, our wage policy is tied to performance. You earn more when you deserve it.”

Campos revealed that Donnarumma was the first player the club opened renewal talks with this summer. However, the Italian’s financial expectations quickly exceeded what PSG were prepared to offer. 

The Ligue 1 champions have been reshaping their wage structure in recent seasons, moving away from the era of galáctico salaries that defined the signings of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé. In its place, PSG insist on a merit-based system that rewards output and consistency on the pitch.

While the decision was ruthless, PSG believe it was necessary for long-term stability. Chevalier, who signed a five-year contract until 2030, has already stepped into the number-one role. 

In his first five matches, he has kept three clean sheets and impressed with his composure in possession, a trait Luis Enrique values highly in his tactical system. Supporters, initially stunned by Donnarumma’s exit, are beginning to warm to the young Frenchman’s performances.

Meanwhile, Donnarumma did not wait long to silence doubters. In his Manchester City debut, the Italian produced a commanding display in a 3-0 derby victory over Manchester United, earning widespread praise from the English press. 

For City, who had been searching for a dependable long-term option between the posts, the signing looks like a coup.

For PSG, though, the message was clear: no individual, no matter how decorated, will come before the collective. Donnarumma’s departure underlines a new era at the club—one where balance sheets and dressing-room harmony outweigh star power.

 Whether this bold shift pays dividends in Europe again remains to be seen, but in Paris, the hierarchy insist the future belongs to the team, not the individual.