PSG sporting director Luis Campos has opened up on the reasons why Gianluigi Donnarumma was allowed to join Manchester City this summer.
Donnarumma, 26, helped PSG to their first Champions League crown last season but was told by Luis Enrique that he was surplus to requirements following the arrival of Lucas Chevalier from Lille this summer.
The Italian, who is regarded by many as the world’s best goalkeeper, ultimately joined City for just £26million and impressed on his debut in their 3-0 victory over Man United on Sunday.
And Campos, who helped to build the team that took PSG to new heights last season, has given context to the decision to move on Donnarumma.
‘Donnarumma was one of the first players we approached about renewing his contract,’ Campos told French outlet RMC Sport.
‘But we quickly realised it would be difficult due to his demands, and the club is more important than any one player.
Luis Campos has revealed why Gianluigi Donnarumma was allowed to leave PSG this summer
Donnarumma departed PSG despite playing a key role in their Champions League triumph
‘Things have changed at PSG, and Donna asked for a salary at the level of the old PSG, not the current one.’
Over recent years at PSG, the club have switched their strategy from signing global superstars – which previously saw the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi arrive for big money – to bringing in the best young talents from across the world.
This includes the likes of Desire Doue, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Bradley Barcola, who were all crucial in the club’s unprecedented success in 2024-25.
It is a strategy that has been accompanied by a desire to reduce the gigantic wages they previously handed out to players, and given the differences with Donnarumma’s demands, Campos went on to explain how Enrique saw an opportunity.
‘From then on (after the differences), the coach said we could take advantage of this to make the team better on the ball, and if we can, we want to make PSG more French,’ he added.
‘If there’s a player whose profile fits the team, then we’ll try to bring him in.’
PSG chose to sign former France youth international Chevalier from Lille for a fee rising to €55m (£47.6m), and the 23-year-old has enjoyed a positive start to life at the Parc des Princes.
Campos said Donnarumma’s wage demands were higher than what PSG were prepared to offer
The French giants went on to sign former France youth international Lucas Chevalier from Lille
And Campos insisted that despite Donnarumma’s impressive debut in Manchester, he was happy with a window that also saw the French giants sign Illia Zabarnyi and move on the likes of Milan Skriniar, Marco Asensio and Carlos Soler.
‘We worked together and did everything we wanted to do,’ Campos continued. ‘No regrets about the market.
‘Throughout my career as a sporting director, I’ve always listened to my coaches’ requests; that’s one of the secrets to my success.
‘I want to help them so they can focus solely on the team.’
