Gianluigi Donnarumma has damaged his silence on one of many darkest weeks in Italian soccer historical past, addressing the bonus controversy that emerged within the aftermath of the World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia whereas paying tribute to the three figures who’ve since stepped down from their roles.
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The Manchester Metropolis goalkeeper, who served as Italy captain in the course of the playoff marketing campaign, spoke to Sky Sport, , in a reflective and emotional interview that lined the whole lot from the non-public ache of a 3rd consecutive World Cup absence to the damaging studies that surfaced about bonus calls for from inside the squad.
For Donnarumma, these studies minimize notably deep. “What harm me most was what got here out,” he stated. “As captain I by no means went to ask the Italian nationwide group for a single euro. What occurs on the nationwide group, as at all times in each competitors, is {that a} reward is given to gamers in the event that they attain a goal. That was all it was, and no one requested the federation for something. Our reward was going to the World Cup. Sadly that didn’t occur.”
It was a agency and unambiguous denial from a participant who clearly felt the integrity of the group was being known as into query at an already painful second.
“I used to be harm extra by the feedback and the phrases that got here out than anything,” he added.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, points directions in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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Italy goalkeeper Donnarumma: ‘We really feel sorry for Gigi, Gattuso & Gravina’
The departures of Gabriele Gravina, Gennaro Gattuso and Gianluigi Buffon have added one other layer of emotion to an already bruising interval. Donnarumma was beneficiant in his phrases for all three, and visibly affected by the chain of resignations that adopted the Zenica defeat.
“I had a beautiful relationship with Gigi, with Gattuso, with Gravina,” he stated. “We really feel sorry above all for them, it’s pure that you simply really feel considerably chargeable for the whole lot that’s occurring now, and it hurts. However I wish to thank the supervisor, the president and Gigi, as a result of they gave an vital contribution.”
Regardless of the ache, the goalkeeper was decided to border the state of affairs inside a broader context.
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Italy’s record-breaking profitable streak and the European Championship triumph of 2021 stay real achievements, and Donnarumma was insistent that the nation’s footballing identification shouldn’t be past restore. “In these years, past the disappointments, we’ve achieved vital issues,” he stated. “Not the whole lot must be thrown away.”
His message for the longer term was easy however heartfelt. “It’s arduous, however we should transfer ahead with power and with the notice that Italy will return robust, will return nice.”
With the Nations League and European Championship nonetheless to come back earlier than any future World Cup marketing campaign, the rebuilding course of begins ahead of many may suppose.
“The primary two days have been very arduous and tiring,” Donnarumma admitted. “It hurts, it actually hurts. The primary days I struggled to course of it. However the fact is that you must restart, transfer ahead, react.”