Peter Schmeichel reveals Gianluigi Donnarumma reply to Man Utd transfer after Man City win

Peter Schmeichel says he asked Gianluigi Donnarumma to join Manchester United (Sky Sports)

Peter Schmeichel has revealed that he attempted to persuade Gianluigi Donnarumma to join Manchester United after their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

A first-half header from Phil Foden, plus a double from Erling Haaland after the break sealed a comfortable win for Pep Guardiola’s side in the first Manchester derby of the season at the Etihad Stadium.

Donnarumma, meanwhile, was handed his debut for City following his £26 million move from Paris Saint-Germain on the final day of the summer transfer window.

The Italy international registered an impressive performance for City as he offered a commanding presence in the box and produced a superb save to deny Bryan Mbeumo in the second half.

Schmeichel, who was working as a pundit for the game at the Etihad Stadium, approached Donnarumma on the touchline after the match and asked the 26-year-old why he opted to join City instead.

‘Donnarumma plays his first game and all the time he’s doing that, talking to them, so they’ve brought in more leadership,’ Schmeichel told Premier League Productions.

‘I’ve followed them [ PSG ] in the Champions League and I’ve spoken to him a lot of times, he speaks English by the way.

Gianluigi Donnarumma delivered an impressive display in his first appearance for Manchester City (Getty)

‘I only managed to persuade him to come into an interview one time, we headed back to the studio, I asked my first question and he started to answer in Italian, and I had no clue!

‘Over the last season I kept saying to him, ‘we want you at Man United’, and he said, ‘I’d love to come to England’.

@metrosportuk The Red Devils really don’t look in good shape 😬 Manchester City destroyed Manchester United in the first Manchester derby of the Premier League season, and it’s caused lots more questions for United manager Ruben Amorim. But City are starting to look more like title contenders after a tough couple of results. @diffknock @alexmoneypenny #manchesterunited #mancity #premierleague #amorim #metroatthematch ♬ original sound – Metro Sport – Metro Sport

When the presenter joked that he had failed his audition as an agent, Schmeichel replied: ‘I did.

‘So I went to him, ‘what are you doing here, you should be in the other goal [for United]’, but he said, ‘I’m very, very happy here’. He showed it, he gave it to the team today, didn’t he.’

Gianluigi Donnarumma made an excellent save to deny Bryan Mbeumo (PA Wire)

Guardiola was also full of praise for Donnarumma and claims the reaction from his City teammates shows after the save to deny Mbeumo shows the harmony in the squad.

‘He played really good. You know in the corners… it’s dangerous and especially in the save that everyone remember with Mbeumo,’ Guardiola said.

‘I like the save and after the reaction from Josko, from Ruben, from Rodri , going there [to him]. Every player wants to be loved, all of us want to be loved and when a team share the good emotions together, there are many good moments and bad moments, they start to be a good team and that is what they have to create.

‘Create [a situation] that everybody is allowed to do bad actions, his mates will be there supporting and the good ones be grateful for the good action they have done and when this happens, it’s the only step I knew after tactics come later, later, later. But we know we brought a player with incredible experience.

‘With the national team, his performances were massive and last season with PSG. He was happy in Paris. He told me that. But the moment he was on the market he was happy to come to Premier League, to enjoy this new adventure.’