Gianluigi Donnarumma’s first three games could make or break Manchester City’s season

As first weeks go, not many will be as challenging, and as crucial, as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s at Manchester City. Following an extensive transfer saga that lasted several weeks, only concluding the morning of transfer deadline day on September 1st, many questions have been raised about how suitable the Italian is to City.

Despite his vast experience playing at the top level, culminating in his role last season in securing Paris Saint-Germain’s maiden Champions League title, there are doubts about how stylistically suitable Donnarumma, best known for his shot-stopping, is to replace Ederson, a keeper renowned for his ball-playing ability above all else.

Welcome to Manchester ☔️😅 pic.twitter.com/fijAWDKanw

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 11, 2025

Derby debut

It is expected that Donnarumma will make his City debut on Sunday, in what has turned out to be a crucial early fixture for the Citizens. Following a disappointing start to the season, losing to Tottenham and Brighton in back to back games before the international break, there is a sense that if City are to remain in title contention they will need to get their season up and running sooner rather than later.

Dropping points to a very poor United side would be yet another blow as City seek to return to winning ways following the disaster of the 2024-25 season. As a result of this, it is imperative that Donnarumma takes to City like a duck to water; if it turns out that a bedding-in period is needed for him in goal, it could see City phased out of the title race even earlier than last year.

That is the risk of this transfer; if it works it could be brilliant, but it needs to work immediately, and not 6-12 months from now, if City are to mount a title challenge.

Champions League opener

Following this, City will open their Champions League campaign against Napoli, a fixture that will see club legend Kevin De Bruyne return to the club sooner than many fans will have expected. City will be looking to return to success in the competition, following back-to-back exits at the hands of Real Madrid, in the first knock-out round last season and in the quarterfinals the year before that.

Given Donnarumma’s performances in the competition last season, there will be an expectation that he will come alive on nights like this. If he fails to instil confidence in the league phase, City could be in for another trip to the first knock-out round (if not immediate elimination), and another disappointing European campaign.

OFFICIAL: Kevin De Bruyne has left #ManCity and joined Napoli.

Wishing you all the very best, @KevinDeBruyne! 🩵 pic.twitter.com/NnwZMtP5OC

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) June 12, 2025

Early title decider

Following this, City face yet another crucial match in the league, as they travel to London to face fellow title-hopefuls Arsenal. While the expectation may be simply to escape with a point and a credible performance against presumably one of the league’s top teams, Donnarumma will need to show all of his acumen in what has become a very difficult game for City in the past two seasons.

Last season especially, a significant needle has been introduced to this fixture, with both teams battling it out both in play, making silly and cynical tackles, and out of play, where mental games and physical confrontations have become more commonplace.

City need, more than anything, stability at the back if they are to weather the storm of the Gunners. If Donnarumma were to keep a clean sheet in London, it would make questioning his signing very difficult for pundits across the media.

Conclusion

Donnarumma is in many ways going to undergo a trial by fire between this Sunday and the next, as he will need to immediately show City fans why he is considered by some to be the best keeper in the world. A derby, a European opener, and a title-decider is perhaps the most difficult first week he could have asked for.

If he succeeds across those eight days, he will silence all his critics and will allow City fans to believe that, both for this season and for many to come, they can sleep peacefully knowing they have one of the best keepers in world football. If he fails, then City fans could be in for another long season of disappointment.