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Both Manchester City and Manchester United are interested in signing Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, with the Italian set to leave the French capital this summer
Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly set to go head-to-head in the transfer market for PSG's unsettled goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Italian has already made it clear he intends to leave the French capital this summer after being frozen out. Donnarumma was a standout performer for Les Parisiens during their Champions League triumph last season, yet the signing of French international Lucas Chevalier has seemingly pushed him towards the exit.
Now, both the red and blue sides of Manchester are believed to be circling. Ruben Amorim's squad urgently need a dependable presence between the posts, with Altay Bayindir's shortcomings highlighted in their narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, and Andre Onana guilty of repeated errors throughout the previous campaign.
City, in contrast, looked to have secured their long-term solution earlier this summer by re-signing James Trafford. However, with Ederson tipped to depart and strongly linked with a switch to Galatasaray, Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen on recruiting the 26-year-old Italy international.
Where Donnarumma will end up isn't known, but the keeper he is no stranger to dramatic transfer sagas - most notably in 2017 when he renewed at AC Milan under controversial circumstances, with speculation over a contract clause involving his brother.
Back in 2017, Donnarumma was still a teenager but had already cemented his place in Milan's first team, widely regarded as one of Europe's brightest young talents. With his deal expiring, he looked set for a high-profile move, with Juventus and Real Madrid monitoring him closely, before he made a surprising U-turn.
Although his agent at the time, the late Mino Raiola, publicly claimed he would not extend his stay at San Siro, Donnarumma ultimately signed fresh terms until 2021 - reportedly with unusual conditions attached.
Reports suggested that as part of the agreement, Milan were required to sign Donnarumma's older brother Antonio, then a 27-year-old goalkeeper with Asteras Tripolis. That £1m deal was finalised just a day after the younger sibling committed to his new contract.
Antonio earned around £850,000 annually, roughly one-sixth of Gigio's salary. Still, Milan's sporting director, Massimiliano Mirabelli, dismissed rumours of any binding clause.
"The first thing we had to do was to renew Gigio's contract, but I immediately had the idea of bringing in his brother Antonio too," he explained in 2017.
"The technical evaluation comes first and I think Antonio can be a 12th man for Milan. He is not a postage parcel like someone said. I'm sorry for him if certain things have been written. Vincenzo Montella [former AC Milan manager] also endorsed this signing. I know him well and I wanted to bring the family back together. I'm proud to present the Donnarumma pair."
Antonio, who had previously been part of Milan's youth system before moving to Genoa, split opinion among supporters with his return. Yet he issued a heartfelt statement following his signing, which drew mixed reactions and still carries an air of intrigue.
"I will be in the dressing room with my brother, which makes me very happy. It is a beautiful thing to be back at Milan," said Antonio, who now represents Serie C outfit Salernitana.
After his Milan contract expired, Donnarumma joined PSG in 2021 and is now on the verge of another move. Antonio also left the Rossoneri in 2019, transferring to Padova before later joining Torino and eventually finding his place at Salernitana.
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