Is Donnarumma what Guardiola needs? A paradox about football philosophy

paradox is understood as a fact or statement that seems to violate logic but after deep thinking, it may be proved to be correct. If this concept is applied to today's football world, perhaps the most obvious example is Donnarumma, who is about to join Manchester City. In theory, he is a goalkeeper who runs completely contrary to Guardiola's football philosophy.

Guardiola no longer needs anyone to tell him what kind of players the team needs. If anyone has the right to decide the success or failure of the team as he pleases, it must be this Spanish coach. However, after it was reported that he wanted to sign Donaruma, many people would inevitably begin to doubt: Is this Italian goalkeeper really what Manchester City needs at the moment?

[Why did Enrique abandon Donaruma]

To explain the doubts surrounding this contract, what else is there, than to outline the reasons why he left Paris Saint-Germain? In terms of game style, Paris and Manchester City both follow the same philosophy of transmission and control taught to the world by Cruyff. It is no longer a secret.

And it is in this sense that Guardiola wants to go all out to sign Donaruma, which seems so surprising.

Paris coach Luis Enrique, the only person responsible for the Italian goalkeeper leaving Paris this summer, has explained this:

"Gigi is an excellent goalkeeper, not to mention his extraordinary personal abilities," he admitted, "but at Paris Saint-Germain I need a goalkeeper with different qualities, and that's why we signed Schalvalier. It was totally my decision, and it was not easy."

To say that Donaruma is not one of the best goalkeepers in the world is a lie. He may even be the best goalkeeper at the moment. However, as we all know, the Italian goalkeeper's ball control ability still needs to be improved, and it needs to be greatly improved.

[Guardiola's Paradox]

When Donnarumma enters the transfer market, he will reasonably transfer to a team that is more suitable for his traditional goalkeeper style. But the Italian, who had packed his bags and was ready to go to the Etihad Stadium and obeyed Guardiola's instructions.

As a ball-handling master, how could Guardiola want a goalkeeper who was abandoned by another pass master, Enrique, because of poor ball-handling performance?

Only Guardiola himself knows the answer.

Ederson is about to leave, and his replacement Trafford, who has not played two games yet, ruined the team's victory because of a disaster-level mistake. His performance against Tottenham on Saturday led to Manchester City losing a game.

For Manchester City, this big bet is not cheap. Trafford spent about €40 million, while Donnarumma's worth is at least €50 million.

Only Guardiola knows what he expects from Donaruma.

For now, his signing is a real paradox. From the outside, this seems meaningless.

Do you think Guardiola's move is a desperate attempt to seek medical treatment, or is there something hidden behind it that we can't understand?