Paris Saint-Germain will be entering a new era next season, with the likely departure of Kylian Mbappé and the possible exit of Marquinhos, so the capital club will need new leaders in the dressing room.
Before PSG’s Sunday match against Stade de Reims, manager Luis Enrique spoke to the media and noted Gianluigi Donnarumma’s leadership skills.
“It’s great news; there’s nothing more important for a player than having the confidence of their supporters and everyone else,” Enrique told reporters (h/t Culture PSG). “He’s always had the coach’s confidence because, for me, he’s number one and a world-class player, I have no doubt about that.
“Having a top goalkeeper at the global level—I think there are only one or two like him—is very important. We’re all very happy to see his performances and his ability to progress. And what we expect from him now is to truly be a leader in the group because that’s important to us.
“He’s a player with a broader vision of the field since he sees everything in front of him every day, so he can help us even more with the positioning of his teammates or other players. And regarding his performances, I’ll repeat: For me, he’s a top player, and I’m very pleased with what he’s doing.”
Over the last few months, there have been rumors that PSG could move on from the Italian shot-stopper. However, the remarks from Enrique and Donnarumma’s performances this season appear to indicate that PSG is willing to back the 25-year-old as their goalkeeper for the present and future.
It will be interesting to see if Donnarumma will take another step as a team leader next season. On a young team next season, the former AC Milan standout will be one of the senior players and can grow into a leadership role, with some players turning to him for guidance.
