Gianluigi Donnarumma makes sly dig at Kylian Mbappe as PSG reach Champions League final – after former team-mate’s move to Real Madrid
Gianluigi Donnarumma has taken a swipe at Kylian Mbappe over his decision to leave PSG last summer – after the side progressed to the Champions League final.
The French champions ensured their place in Munich at the end of the month after beating Arsenal 2-1 on Wednesday night – 3-1 on aggregate – in a convincing victory.
It is the second time that PSG have reached a Champions League final in the club’s history – having fallen to a 1-0 defeat by Bayern Munich back in 2020.
Their success, also, comes just one season after France star Mbappe opted to leave the Ligue 1 giants in order to secure a free transfer to Real Madrid.
However, Los Blancos’ European campaign ended in disappointment after losing 5-1 on aggregate to Arsenal during the quarter-finals.
Now, PSG star Donnarumma has weighed in on the team’s transformation since Mbappe’s exit and insisted that the side now ‘play for each other’.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has taken a swipe at Kylian Mbappe over his decision to leave PSG
The French superstar left the French giants on a free last summer to join Real Madrid
Speaking to Prime Video after the match, Donnarumma said: ‘The spirit has changed, we are much more of a team. We play for each other.
‘The team is very united, we’re doing well together. We (Italy) won a European Championship like this, it makes all the difference in every team.
‘We miss Kylian, he is one of the best in the world and I wish him all the best because he is a great friend’.
Though both Lionel Messi and Neymar walked away from the French giants in recent years, it has been Mbappe’s departure which has hurt fans the most.
However, since his exit, PSG have rebuilt their team with some of Europe’s most exciting talents – such as Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola.
Mbappe endured a tough start to life in Spain however, since then, he has gone on to display his prolific talents and scored 36 goals from 52 games in all competitions.
Despite his best efforts, Madrid could go trophyless in Mbappe’s debut season – having lost in the Copa del Rey final, been knocked out the Champions League and are currently trailing league leaders Barcelona.
Donnarumma, meanwhile, swept up the plaudits after PSG’s victory over Arsenal after producing a handful of stunning saves to keep the French side in control.
Donnarumma insisted PSG are ‘more of a team’ since Mbappe’s decision to leave the club
The Frenchman looks set to go trophyless during his first season with the Spanish giants
Meanwhile, PSG have won Ligue 1 and are heading to the Champions League final this month
Even Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta claimed that goalkeeper Donnarumma was PSG’s best player and the difference maker on the night.
First the 26-year-old produced an impressive stop from Gabriel Martinelli before keeping out a long-range effort from Martin Odegaard with the hosts under pressure.
The Italian then made a stunning save to tip over Bukayo Saka’s strike which was destined for the top corner.
Donnarumma also put in a magnificent display in the first leg, which saw the Parisian side leave the Emirates with a clean sheet.
Speaking after the game, Arteta told TNT Sports: ‘The assessment I will make when I am a little cooler but the feedback I got straight away from their bench is that we were much better than them.
‘When you look at the two games their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper, he has been the difference for them in the tie.’
