Gianluigi Donnarumma became PSG’s NINTH goalkeeper in star-packed squad after signing from AC Milan… so who else can Mauricio Pochettino call on between the sticks?
- PSG have an embarrassment of riches in every position, particularly in goal
- Gianluigi Donnarumma was named Euro 2020’s player of the tournament
- The former AC Milan star has now signed with the French side on a free transfer
- He is among nine keepers in Paris, set to fight with Keylor Navas for the No.1 spot
The very last thing Paris Saint-Germain needed was more goalkeepers, but with the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma the Ligue 1 side now have nine first-team stoppers.
The Euro 2020 player of the tournament slots-in as favourite to assert himself as the French side’s No.1 after signing from AC Milan on a free, but he’ll have a queue of talent waiting to pounce on any slip-ups.
Keylor Navas was both Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino‘s first-choice last season, and the 34-year-old triple Champions League winner will be the main threat to Donnarumma’s starting spot next season.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will look to assert himself as PSG’s No.1 ahead of nine other keepers
The 22-year-old was unveiled by PSG on a free transfer after triumphing at Euro 2020 with Italy
The 2021-22 campaign will be the former Real Madrid man’s third since emerging from Thibaut Courtois’ shadow to join the French club, where he has been the undisputed first choice since.
Navas was backed-up by Sergio Rico last season, with the 27-year-old Spaniard keeping eight clean-sheets in 13 games to prove himself as a very capable option for Pochettino.
Now bumped-down to third-choice, the former Sevilla stopper could opt to seek more game-time elsewhere. Rico was linked with Lazio last summer, with some reports in Italy once again hinting that the Rome club see him as an option.
Another man potentially on the move is Alphonse Areola, who has been a PSG player since his youth days. The Frenchman rose through the club’s academy to make more than 100 appearances for his hometown club.
Keylor Navas have been first choice in Paris for two seasons but now faces a fight for his spot
Alphonse Areola had a tough season on-loan with Fulham but is now linked with West Ham
Sergio Rico was back-up to Navas last season but has now been bumped-down to third choice
Now 28 and after five separate loan spells – including Premier League relegation with Fulham last season – it could finally be time to move on. Areola impressed despite the west Londoners dropping out of the top-flight, and is closing-in on a permanent move to West Ham this summer.
Behind those four established names, PSG’s goalkeeping depth continues with a returning journeyman alongside four hungry young keepers.
Denis Franchi, 18, rises into PSG’s first-team squad after two seasons with the under-19s, while the French giants have poached another 18-year-old in Lille talent Lucas Lavallee this summer.
The France under-17 international has signed a contract until 2024, but is expected to spend the season with the under-19 squad.
Two 21-year-olds who have returned from loan spells in the French second and third tiers last season are former Chelsea academy prospect Marcin Bulka and six-foot-three Haitian keeper Garissone Innocent.
Both men are likely to be loaned-out again this season, while 30-year-old Alexandre Letellier – who returned to his boyhood club in 2020 after a decade away – will likely be at the bottom of the pecking order when the Ligue 1 season kicks-off.