REVEALED: THE SECRET SHORT-PASSING METRICS THAT CONVINCED PEP GUARDIOLA TO SIGN GIGIO DONNARUMMA
Guardiola hails Donnarumma’s passing as City chase Arsenal. See the stats behind the Ederson swap and why Pep trusts his No. 1.
Pep Guardiola’s not having any of the criticism about Gianluigi Donnarumma’s passing. The Manchester City boss has praised his new goalkeeper’s calmness, control, and especially his short passing. According to Guardiola, people don’t give the 26-year-old enough credit for how good he is with the ball at his feet. Sure, he admits Donnarumma isn’t Ederson when it comes to launching those long passes—but then again, who is?
A lot of people doubted if Guardiola would actually sign Donnarumma, since the Italian’s distribution had been questioned, and City’s style is built around keepers who can play out from the back. But City went for it anyway, paying £26 million after Donnarumma became surplus to requirements at PSG—even though he’d just helped Luis Enrique’s team win their first Champions League. PSG moved on to Lucas Chevalier, who cost them €40 million, mainly because of his superior passing.
The city made room for Donnarumma by selling Ederson to Fenerbahce for £10 million. Ederson’s known as one of the best passing goalkeepers in the world, so swapping him for Donnarumma was always going to raise some eyebrows. Guardiola has always wanted keepers to be comfortable with the ball—remember when he replaced Joe Hart with Claudio Bravo as soon as he arrived? But now, Guardiola’s made it clear: he thinks Donnarumma deserves more respect.
Before City’s FA Cup game against Exeter City, Guardiola said, “Donnarumma’s really, really good with short passes. He can’t hit the long ones like Ederson, but honestly, nobody can. Gigio’s calm, his first touch is solid, and his decision-making and short passing are way better than people think.”
Comparing stats from last season, Ederson was on the ball a lot more—averaging 31.7 passes per 90 minutes, compared to Donnarumma’s 23. 4. Ederson also played more long balls (9.4 versus 6 per game), and with better accuracy (almost 58% to Donnarumma’s 45%). Since coming to City, Donnarumma hasn’t been as involved in build-up play—he averages 25.5 passes a game—but he’s reminded everyone he’s still one of the best old-school shot-stoppers, with a 71.7% save rate in the Premier League.
Guardiola clearly trusts Donnarumma, even if people still talk about his discipline and passing. The Spaniard avoided criticising him after four yellow cards in his first ten games and even stepped in to calm things down when Donnarumma got involved in a scuffle during the 1-1 draw at Sunderland.
City needs Donnarumma to be at his best if they’re going to keep up with Arsenal, who are six points ahead in the title race. With some big league matches coming up, Donnarumma’s getting a rest for the FA Cup third round against Exeter—James Trafford steps in for that one. But make no mistake, Guardiola’s got faith in his new number one.
TITLE BLUEPRINT: HOW MANCHESTER CITY’S GAME IN HAND COULD DECIDE THE 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE
Title hunt. Get the report on Guardiola’s control, Arteta’s lead, and the upcoming Leeds United clash.
Manchester City did exactly what they needed to over the weekend. They battled past Newcastle, squeaking out a 2-1 win that keeps their Premier League fate in their own hands. For a moment, City sat just two points behind Arsenal, at least until Arsenal rolled into Tottenham and smashed their rivals 4-1. That put Arsenal five clear at the top again, but City still have that all-important game in hand. After a weekend loaded with nerves and tension, City are still right in the thick of the title race, which is really all they can ask for at this point.
That win over Newcastle felt like a real test. You could feel the anxiety in the air at the Etihad. Newcastle didn’t just show up to make up the numbers; they pushed City hard and never let them settle. Every minute felt tight. City knew they had to win, especially with Arsenal dropping points to Wolves. More than that, they needed to prove to themselves they could handle the pressure. In the end, they got the job done, and that’s what mattered most.
Arsenal answered right back. They walked into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and blew Spurs away, 4-1. After their slip against Wolves, it was a real statement. Like City, Arsenal now control their own destiny. And now there’s that huge match coming up in April at the Etihad. If both teams keep winning, that could be the day the title race really explodes.
Looking ahead, neither City nor Arsenal will want to let anything slip. There’s just too much on the line. Sure, some people love a gamble; maybe they’d enjoy spinning the reels on Dragon Risk Slot, but Guardiola and Arteta aren’t gamblers when it comes to the title. They’ll want total control, nothing left to chance.
So, after a weekend packed with drama, both teams are right where they want to be. City got what they needed against Newcastle, and now they’ll look to keep that momentum going, starting with Leeds at Elland Road next weekend. The race is on.
BARCA TARGET MARMOUSH: MANCHESTER CITY STAR EMERGES AS TOP ALTERNATIVE FOR CATALAN GIANTS
Striker hunt: Discover why Barcelona are eyeing Omar Marmoush as a cut-price alternative to Atletico's €200m Julián Alvarez.
Barcelona are eyeing Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush as they look to bring in a new striker this summer.
Sport says Barcelona have already nailed down their main targets for next season, and a new No. 9 tops the list. The problem? The market’s thin, prices are crazy, and the big names cost a fortune.
Julián Alvarez is the dream signing, but Atlético Madrid wants about €150m (£130m). That’s way out of reach. So, Barca are already weighing other options, and Marmoush is high on their list of names they like.
Here’s why Marmoush’s situation at City makes things interesting. City bought him from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for €75m (£65m). Pep Guardiola had tracked him for a while; Marmoush was tearing it up in the Bundesliga, and even then, Barcelona’s scouts were watching him too. They think he’d fit right into Hansi Flick’s style, with his speed and link-up play.
But things haven’t clicked for him at City. Erling Haaland is locked in as the main striker, so Marmoush has mostly been on the bench or pushed out wide. He’s shown flashes when he’s come on, but the minutes just haven’t been there. Missing a month for the Africa Cup of Nations didn’t help either, so his stats look pretty average.
Rumours about a possible exit started back in January. Marmoush wants more game time and a bigger role, something Barcelona can offer. Still, they’re not the only ones watching. Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Galatasaray are all interested, which makes his future even more up in the air.
So, is Marmoush’s time at City almost up? Barcelona are in a good spot if Marmoush decides to leave this summer. He’s not their top choice, but if the Alvarez deal falls apart, they could pivot fast.
For City, it all comes down to price. Marmoush cost them €75m (£65m) not long ago, but reports say he could go for less if Guardiola gives the green light. Selling him at a discount would be a big statement; it would basically say he’s not in their plans behind Haaland.
Right now, there’s no official offer. Barcelona are keeping a close eye on things, and a lot depends on whether Marmoush asks for a move after the season wraps up. If he does, City will have to fend off competition from England and Turkey to get the deal done.
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