Leonardo: ‘PSG didn’t work to make Donnarumma leave for free’
Paris Saint-Germain director Leonardo said the French giants ‘never worked to make’ Gianluigi Donnarumma ‘leave Milan on a free transfer’.
The Ligue 1 giants picked up the Italy international on a free transfer this summer, when his contract at San Siro expired in June.
Milan signed Mike Maignan from LOSC Lille to replace the Italian 22-year-old and Leonardo quashed any rumours regarding contact before the player’s deal had expired.
Italy: Donnarumma delivers message after being booed at San Siro
The PSG director insisted the club never spoke to Donnarumma about a possible move to Parc des Princes before June.
“We never contacted Donnarumma before June,” Leonardo said at the Festival of Sport, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Never.
“We had no idea of signing him. In June, he was still free, we talked and decided to do this. There was never any work before that.”
Donnarumma signed a deal until June 2026 with PSG but has initially struggled with playing time in the French capital.
The former Rossonero played in the Champions League against Manchester City and has played three times in Ligue 1 so far this term, with Mauricio Pochettino preferring Keylor Navas over the Azzurri star.
And Leonardo explained PSG didn’t contact the player until this summer, when his contract with the Rossoneri expired.
“Milan said in April that they wouldn’t continue with Donnarumma and signed Maignan,” Leonardo added.
“From there, publicly, he became a free player, but we never contacted him before June. We never worked to make him leave on a free transfer.”