Marcus Bettinelli has highlighted the positive impact of Gianluigi Donnarumma as Manchester City continue their pre-season tour of Asia. The veteran goalkeeper spoke to SABC Sport this week about his new teammate's influence and the squad's adaptation under manager Enzo Maresca.
Bettinelli and Donnarumma both joined the club during the 2025 summer transfer window and are now key figures on the tour, with several senior players still absent following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 34-year-old Englishman described the Italy international as a fantastic and humble professional whose presence has been vital. "He's won a lot of things but he's still so humble and hardworking," Bettinelli said. "That showed last season. We needed him in big moments in big games and he was there for the team."
How is Bettinelli helping the younger players?
With experienced leaders like Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri not yet returned from international duty, Bettinelli is embracing a mentorship role. He noted the importance of guiding the academy players and young goalkeepers who are travelling with the first team. "Whenever pre-season comes around, there's always young lads on their first trip like this, so it's important we do what we can for them," he explained. This responsibility comes as City integrate several promising talents into the senior setup, a process fans can track on the official squad page.
What has changed under Enzo Maresca?
The players are quickly adapting to the methods of new head coach Enzo Maresca. Bettinelli has a previous working relationship with the Italian from their time together at Chelsea, which he believes has helped the squad's transition. "I was fortunate enough to work with Enzo for a season, so I'm quite used to a lot of the things he's trying to do," Bettinelli stated. He added that all the players have taken the new ideas on board and are enjoying the training sessions. Maresca's early work focuses on building a solid tactical foundation ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Why are the pre-season matches important?
City's tour schedule includes testing fixtures against Inter Milan, the K-League All Stars, and Atletico Madrid. Bettinelli stressed that these games are no longer mere friendlies. "I don't think there's such a thing as a pre-season friendly anymore because everyone is ready to compete from the first game," he said. He believes facing top-quality opposition is essential for preparation, especially while the squad is not at full strength. The next match is against the K-League All Stars on Wednesday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
What does the fixture schedule look like?
Upon returning from Asia, Manchester City face a demanding start to the 2026-27 season. The early Premier League fixtures include a derby clash and matches against several top-half sides from the previous campaign. Building fitness and cohesion now is critical for navigating this opening period successfully. Supporters can view the complete upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page. The team's current form and standings can also be followed via the standings section once the competitive action begins.
The tour represents a key phase for integrating new signings and establishing Maresca's philosophy. Bettinelli's comments underscore a collective focus on hard work and unity as the club aims to turn a strong pre-season into a successful title challenge.
