‘He Pushed Hard for Me’ – Gianluigi Donnarumma Reveals How ‘Alien’ Erling Haaland Convinced Him to Move From PSG to Man City

Inside the Friendship Behind the Transfer: How Erling Haaland ‘Pushed Hard for Me’ and Helped Donnarumma Trade PSG for Manchester City

Transfers often come down to agents, contracts, directors, and late-night negotiation marathons. But every so often, a move happens because of something far simpler: one player who genuinely wants another by his side. That’s exactly what Gianluigi Donnarumma says happened this summer when he swapped Paris Saint-Germain for Manchester City — a move that stunned Europe on deadline day and instantly shifted the Premier League’s goalkeeping hierarchy.

And behind it, according to Donnarumma, was one man: Erling Haaland.
The Italian goalkeeper describes the City striker as “an alien,” a smiling, relentless goalscoring machine who not only welcomed him with open arms but actively pushed for him to come to Manchester. In a world where stars often operate in their own bubbles, Donnarumma says Haaland broke that stereotype completely.

What has unfolded since is a story about chemistry, trust, football ambition — and a friendship that began long before the keeper pulled on a sky-blue shirt.

A Bond Built Before Manchester: Donnarumma and Haaland Click Instantly

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Donnarumma revealed that his connection with Haaland existed even before they were teammates. There was already a mutual respect there — the kind that comes from competing at the highest international level.

“I’d say we just got on well immediately,” he said. “We’ve always respected each other, even before we met. We make a lot of banter about playing against each other in the national teams.”

Italy vs Norway isn’t exactly a classic rivalry, but Donnarumma laughs when he talks about their jokes. Norway’s golden generation — Haaland, Ødegaard and company — are in a moment of calm belief, while Italy have been navigating a turbulent qualifying cycle.

“I’d say they’re in a better situation than us now,” Donnarumma admitted. “They have much more peace of mind. But there are still two games left.”

He knows he’ll likely face Haaland soon on the international stage, and he doesn’t pretend it will be enjoyable.

“It will be difficult to face him, both as a player and as a friend,” he said. “I know how strong he is and what chances he can create.”

This is not the usual polite media answer. This is a goalkeeper who has been on the receiving end of a Haaland rocket and has absolutely no desire to repeat the experience.

Why Haaland, Not Mbappé, Is the Toughest Opponent for Donnarumma

One of the spicier moments came when Donnarumma was asked to compare Haaland with his old PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé — a question that usually triggers diplomatic dodging from players.

But not this time.

“I think Erling does have the hardest shot,” he said. “He is left-footed, so he is different from Kylian. They’re both hard to play against. But I would rather have Erling playing for my side.”

That line will not go unnoticed in Paris.

Donnarumma has stood in front of Mbappé’s right foot many times in training. Yet he still insists Haaland’s power, precision and left-footed brutality give him the edge. “Alien” is a word several Premier League defenders have quietly used. Donnarumma just said it out loud.

How Haaland Helped Bring Donnarumma to Manchester City

Manchester City v Manchester United – Premier League

It wasn’t just admiration. Haaland played a direct role in bringing the Italian to City.

Donnarumma told Sky Sports that once the opportunity appeared, Haaland didn’t hesitate.

“When I had the opportunity to come here, he wrote to me,” Donnarumma said. “He pushed hard for me to come, and I thank him so much for that.”

Haaland is one of the most famous footballers on the planet, yet Donnarumma describes him as the exact opposite of a diva:

“He’s a fantastic guy, so calm. He loves his family, he loves being with them. We hit it off immediately. There’s that synergy where there’s just a natural feeling.”

They spoke often even when they were opponents. Now they speak every day.

And as Donnarumma puts it, with a grin:
“It’s a good thing I play with him, because it’s so difficult to be against him! He’s an alien!”

From PSG Frustration to Premier League Rebirth

Donnarumma’s exit from Paris was not smooth. Luis Enrique had already brought in Lucas Chevalier from Lille, signalling the end of Donnarumma’s undisputed status. The Italian wanted minutes, stability, and trust — things he no longer felt at PSG.

City offered something else: a clean slate. A chance to rediscover himself. A club that builds careers, not just buys them.

And judging from his performances so far, the match between goalkeeper and club has been almost seamless.

Donnarumma has played 12 matches for City and kept six clean sheets — a remarkable return for someone adapting to a new league, a new dressing room, a new tactical system, and a very different type of pressure.

‘I Could Have Kept More’ – Donnarumma’s Honest First Assessment

Despite the strong start, Donnarumma is not satisfied. Not even close.

“I’m a bit angry because I could have kept more,” he said. “I didn’t expect to have such a positive impact this quickly, but the team helped me a lot.”

He describes an instant sense of belonging — the opposite of what he experienced during his final months in Paris.

“The moment I arrived, they welcomed me very well. They helped me a lot in the first games, especially the first one which was just three days in. In the first training session, it felt like I had been here for two years.”

That early comfort mattered. Guardiola’s system demands bravely playing out from the back, sweeping outside the box, sprinting into duels, and reading danger seconds before it forms. It is not a place where a goalkeeper can hide.

“The league is very different,” he said. “There’s a lot of running, a lot of intensity, so I had to adapt immediately. But the team has been fundamental.”

Manchester City Still Chasing Arsenal at the Top

Pep Guardiola Manchester City 2025

City may not have started the season perfectly — their early losses to Tottenham and Brighton felt uncharacteristic — but since then, they’ve clicked back into familiar rhythm.

The champions are now just four points behind Arsenal, and Guardiola’s side look more like themselves with each passing week. Donnarumma’s arrival has only strengthened that upward curve.

City travel to Newcastle next, hoping to trim the gap at the top of the table and put pressure back on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. With Haaland firing again, De Bruyne returning from injury, and Donnarumma settling rapidly, the champions seem to be gathering momentum at exactly the right moment.

And somewhere in that machine, between the passes, the saves, the celebrations, and the WhatsApp messages, is a friendship — goalkeeper and striker, Italy and Norway, quiet and chaotic — that helped make one of the summer’s biggest transfers possible.

For Donnarumma, the move to Manchester wasn’t just a professional decision.

It was personal.
It was human.
It was Haaland.

And as long as the “alien” keeps scoring and Donnarumma keeps saving, City might just have built the most unstoppable core in Europe.