Having missed a majority of last season after suffering an ACL injury, Rodri is yet to spend too much time on the pitch with several of the new signings Manchester City have made since the summer of 2024.
As a result, the Spaniard must feel like he is readjusting to life at the Etihad Stadium after signing for City in 2019.
Rodri admitted Manchester City’s signings will take time to settle but being a serial winner, he will be hoping the Sky Blues return to become the winning machine they were as soon as possible.
On Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s men have the chance to lay a marker down by beating Arsenal and that too away from home.
Rodri says Gianluigi Donnarumma makes him feel ‘chilled’ on the pitch
All eyes will be on the likes of Tijjani Reijnders and Gianluigi Donnarumma to see how they cope with the pressure of playing at the Emirates Stadium if the pair start for the visitors.
The goalkeeper in particular has grabbed the headlines since his move to City, with Erling Haaland referring to Donnarumma as “amazing” as he looked assured against both Manchester United and Napoli.
Rodri told Sky Sports that playing alongside Donnarumma makes him feel composed on the pitch due to his commanding presence in between the sticks: “He’s one of the best ‘keepers, one of the best in the world and of course, you just need five minutes to see what he’s going to give to the team. He’s massive, he can catch the ball in the air, he makes you confident about everything.”
“He made an incredible save [to keep Bryan Mbeumo’s effort at bay] yesterday. He makes you [feel]…’I’m so chilled that he’s in there.’ We came from one of the best ‘keepers of this era with Eddie [Ederson], that was massive for us but now, I hope Donnarumma does the same thing because he does the same thing.”
“Not for me, for the opponents, when you see the goal, when you see that guy in there, we’re so confident about it.”
Bernardo Silva told Rodri that Donnarumma reminds him of a legendary goalkeeper
The Italian has the experience of playing against the North Londoners three times.
Donnarumma won two games and lost one against Arsenal thrice last season.
| GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA’S RECORD VS ARSENAL | |
| GAMES | 3 |
| WINS | 2 |
| DRAWS | 0 |
| LOSSES | 1 |
| CLEAN SHEETS | 1 |
As a result, it is difficult to imagine the 26-year-old being overawed by the occasion.
Bernardo Silva compared Donnarumma to Thibaut Courtois while speaking to Rodri, saying: With Gigi, the feeling that you have is a bit, Courtois feeling, you know. He’s a tall guy, he’s a big guy.”
“He’s still young because he’s 26 but he’s played at the highest level for so long but first game at a new club, you could see that he felt comfortable with it and it’s good to have a guy like that at the back.”
Even David Raya lauded Donnarumma as he admitted the former Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
