Gianluigi Donnarumma has elaborated on the unfortunate collision with Jamal Musiala at the Club World Cup. The Italian goalkeeper of Paris Saint-Germain had no intention of hitting Bayern Munich’s German star talent.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma has addressed the criticism surrounding his involvement in the unfortunate injury of Jamal Musiala during Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup.
The match, which was expected to be a showcase of elite football, took a grim turn in the second half when Musiala suffered a serious injury following a clash with Donnarumma inside the penalty area.
The German wonderkid fractured his fibula an injury that will keep him sidelined for months and possibly force him to miss the start of the new Bundesliga season. The incident occurred as Musiala was driving into the PSG box in an attempt to spark a comeback for Bayern. Donnarumma rushed out to intercept the ball, sliding in with precision and power. While the Italian keeper got to the ball first, Musiala's momentum brought him straight into Donnarumma’s path, resulting in a heavy collision.
Donnarumma, who played a crucial role in PSG’s Champions League triumph earlier this year, was visibly distraught after the impact. Cameras captured him kneeling on the pitch with his hands on his head as Musiala lay in pain. While the referee and VAR confirmed that the challenge was clean and did not warrant any disciplinary action, emotions flared particularly among Bayern players and staff.
In the days following the match, criticism intensified. Bayern Munich’s technical director Max Eberl publicly stated that he expected more sportsmanship from Donnarumma, suggesting that the goalkeeper should have immediately gone to check on Musiala. Club captain Manuel Neuer echoed the sentiment and went further, implying that Donnarumma might have acted with less aggression or approached the challenge differently. Neuer, himself an experienced keeper, hinted that there was a level of responsibility that came with experience in managing such high-risk plays.
Faced with mounting scrutiny, Donnarumma gave his account in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I was really shocked by what happened,” the 26-year-old told the Italian outlet. “It was never my intention to injure Musiala. I went for the ball, and everything happened so fast. I saw the pain he was in, and I felt terrible immediately. These moments are the worst part of football.”
The Italian international’s agent, Vincenzo Raiola, also stepped in to defend his client. “It all happened very quickly. Gigio reached the ball first and couldn’t have predicted the collision. It’s simply not fair to suggest that he wanted to hurt anyone that idea is totally unfounded. This is top-level football, and such split-second decisions are part of the game.”
The debate has divided opinion across the football world. Some see Donnarumma as a victim of circumstance, while others especially within the Bayern community believe more empathy or restraint could have been shown. Amid the tension, former Real Madrid and Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares offered a calm and reasoned perspective during an interview with COPE radio. “He clearly went for the ball without any intent to harm. I see no malice in Donnarumma’s actions. In fact, it’s unfair to blame him. Goalkeepers are trained to commit fully just like strikers don’t slow down when they run at us. What happened to Musiala is terribly unfortunate, but these things happen. It’s part of the risk inherent in the game.”
Medical staff later confirmed that Musiala suffered a clean fibula fracture and will not require surgery, although his recovery will likely take between two to three months. Bayern Munich has since issued an official statement wishing the player a full recovery, but the club made no direct reference to Donnarumma or the incident.
Meanwhile, PSG remains focused on its historic season. The win over Bayern secured the club a spot in the Club World Cup final a stage they’ve never reached before. Donnarumma is expected to start again, and all eyes will be on how he responds to the mental pressure after the backlash.
The incident has sparked broader discussions in football about the fine line between physicality and recklessness, and about the emotional burden players carry especially when involved in moments that result in serious injuries to opponents. While Donnarumma is unlikely to face any disciplinary measures, the debate around this challenge and its consequences is far from over.
Updated: 12:01, 7 Jul 2025
