Manchester City goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has praised Gianluigi Donnarumma for his humility and work ethic during their pre-season tour of Asia in 2026. The pair, who joined the club in the summer of 2025, are the two senior goalkeepers on the tour and have been working closely together.
What makes Donnarumma stand out?
Bettinelli, 34, described Donnarumma as a fantastic goalkeeper with an extensive trophy cabinet in both club and international football. Despite his achievements, Bettinelli noted that Donnarumma remains humble and hardworking. "He's won a lot of things but he's still so humble and hard working," Bettinelli said. The English goalkeeper also mentioned that Donnarumma's English is improving, which has helped their relationship.
How is Bettinelli contributing to the team?
As one of the older players on the tour, Bettinelli is taking on a leadership role, especially with younger goalkeepers and players. He emphasized the importance of setting a good example and helping the younger players adapt to the team's expectations. "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 said.
What's next for Manchester City?
Manchester City will continue their pre-season tour with matches against K-League All Stars on Wednesday, August 5, and Atletico Madrid on Sunday, August 9. Both games will be available to watch on CITY+ for subscribers. Bettinelli believes that facing high-quality opposition during pre-season will help the team hit the ground running when the campaign starts in earnest.
