da wazamba： The Italy shot-stopper has endured a difficult month, and could see his place in the French champions' side come under threat

da stake casino： The question was bound to come. Paris Saint-Germain had just beaten Le Havre 2-0, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Vitinha — a solid result at a tough stadium to play at. It was the kind of game that the Parisian sides of old would lose, and Luis Enrique's team had navigated it with relative comfort.

However, a Gianluigi Donnarumma blunder dominated the fixture, PSG's big-money goalkeeper sent off for a comical high boot to clatter Le Havre striker Josue Casimir after just 10 minutes. Luis Enrique was forced into commenting, and his words were those of support that perhaps any manager would have used. “There is no problem with Gigio,” the former Barcelona boss claimed.

But for all of the manager's assurances, it stood as a concerning moment for the Parisians. Donnarumma has been in shaky form for a while, with the last six weeks particularly miserable. He seems to make errors every game at the moment, and has undoubtedly struggled to adapt to the possession-based style that his new coach requires.

Factor in that Arnau Tenas, Donnarumma's replacement on Sunday, turned in a fine performance of his own to preserve the three points and seems to be in much more of Luis Enrique's vision for his goalkeeper, Donnarumma's flaws have only been heightened.

It might not be time for the Italy No.1 to leave PSG, but his poor fit in this side has never been more obvious.

Getty ImagesRecognisable pattern forming

This is not panic-button time — not yet, at least. Donnarumma hasn't lost too many of his capabilities as a shot-stopper, and his Golden Ball-winning performances at Euro 2020 should also not be forgotten. But there is more to being a goalkeeper these days than simply being able to move one's hands — or, indeed, legs — towards a ball that would otherwise ripple the back of the net.

And that's where the Italian keeper comes up short. He is an average but unspectacular passer, and doesn't necessarily have the kind of athletic capabilities to play as the 'sweeper keeper' that is needed to compliment PSG's often-suicidally high line.

It's something that is clear in almost every game. PSG concede a concerning number of chances for a side that has ambitions to win not only their domestic league but also push for European glory. Donnarumma, generally, is a busy boy. And every game, he provides a number of key saves. There are diving stops from long-range efforts, bold jumps to deny crosses, and fine, instinctive parries inside the six-yard box.

But he always seems to make at least one mistake. Against Monaco, he simply gifted a goal to Takumi Minamino. Against AC Milan at home, an awkward headed clearance almost allowed the visitors back into a game the Parisians were dominating. And last Wednesday, his inability to hold onto a shot from Miguel Almiron handed Newcastle an opening goal atParc des Princes.

This is not a new concept, either. Blunders against Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2023 and Real Madrid the year before have cost his team dearly in the knockout stages.

AdvertisementGettyMisery in Milan

Perhaps the worst night of this recent poor run of for Donnarumma was when he returned to Milan to face his boyhood club in November. It was always going to be a tough trip to San Siro as Milan fans have made no secret of their disdain for the goalkeeper since he made his high profile move to PSG in 2021. The then-22-year-old refused to pen a new deal with the Rossoneri, and instead accepted an immensely lucrative contract offer in Paris.

Donnarumma tried to keep things light in anticipation of the clash. “Facing AC Milan means a lot to me, but I need to stay in control of my emotions and focus on the game,” he told PSG's club site before the Parisians hosted Milan, two weeks previously. “I feel really comfortable here; we’re like one big family at Paris Saint-Germain, and that was also the case at Milan. I’ll always keep them in my heart.”

But the Rossoneri fans didn't share the same sentiment. They showered the 'keeper with fake Euros, complete with a picture of his face and the word "mercenario" — Italian for mercenary. He was subject to taunts and boos throughout the contest and lambasted every time he touched the ball. At various points, the San Siro faithful called him "a son of a b*tch", while the nickname "Dolla-ruma" — a jab at his preference for money over his boyhood club — was tossed around with apparent glee.

And then, there was his performance. Although the Parisians took the lead early on, Milan dominated the rest of proceedings, snatching a vital 2-1 win that kept them in the knockout-stage picture. And Donnarumma had a role to play — albeit to the detriment of his side. He parried the ball right into the path of Rafael Leao for Milan's equaliser, and should have saved the Portuguese's close-range effort. While he was steady for the remainder of the contest, Donnarumma's blunder undoubtedly turned a comfortable game into an eventual loss.

Getty ImagesReaching the nadir

However, the concerning error came on Sunday. Donnarumma didn't really look like he knew what he was doing as he staggered out of his penalty area in a bid to beat the onrushing attacker and clear the ball upfield. At first, it seemed that he would win the race comfortably, but as it bounced, the ball stood up and slowed down — and Donnarumma failed to react.

He lazily swung his right leg, only to make contact with Casemir's head in an act that more resembled WWE wrestling than the beautiful game. Donnarumma collapsed to the turf, and rolled over in apparent agony. He recovered remarkably quickly, though, once the referee showed him an entirely deserved red card. In the end, Kylian Mbappe had to escort his keeper off the pitch. It was the fourth red of Donnarumma's career, and first since 2021.

The referee had no choice but to send him off — despite Parisian protestations. It capped off a miserable few weeks for the shot-stopper, who now faces questions as to whether he is the right man for the job going forward.

GettyAn in-house replacement?

He was done few favours by the strong performance of his back-up, Tenas. The former Barcelona trainee has usurped Keylor Navas as PSG's No.2 goalkeeper, and it seems the veteran Costa Rican will leave the club in January. Sergio Rico, meanwhile, is close to recovering after an awful horse-riding accident brought his career to a halt six months ago.

Tenas moved to Parc des Princes over the summer after the 22-year-old was not offered a new contract at Barca, and he instead penned a three-year deal with the French champions. He was actually Luis Enrique's first signing as PSG manager, a deal expedited by the fact that the two share the same agent — as well as Catalan heritage.

Luis Enrique has, in fact, always had a soft spot for the youngster. He called Tenas up to his Spain squad in March 2022 despite him having not made a single first-team appearance in Catalunya, with David de Gea among those who were overlooked.

Against Le Havre, Tenas responded to Donnarumma's mishap by producing a seven-save performance, including a late double-stop when his side were leading 1-0 that could have seen the result swing the other way. And perhaps more importantly, he looked far more composed than the No.1 option with the ball at his feet.

The manager, famously critical of some of his players in the press, was quick to praise his reserve 'keeper, saying: "Arnau is an example of what it means to be prepared and to train every day to take advantage of the opportunity he had today. He has received the reward he deserves for his professionalism, and we already knew how good he is." With Donnarumma now facing a suspension, Tenas will get more opportunities to impress, too.