Donnarumma, the ideal replacement for Courtois at Real Madrid

Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 27-year-old Italian goalkeeper of Manchester City, should become one of the top priorities in the upcoming transfer markets for Real Madrid to prepare the replacement for Thibaut Courtois. The possible sanction against the English club, which could include relegation, sets a scenario that Florentino Pérez would need to study before the next transfer window.

The English club was found guilty of multiple financial violations by an independent commission of the Premier League on September 29. Although they have appealed and there is no final sanction yet, the possibility of a significant points deduction requires considering different scenarios for their players.

🇺🇿🤝🇮🇹 Khusanov & Donnarumma at the back for Manchester City. Composed. 🥶 https://t.co/f2YKH0gNX8

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) February 23, 2026

Gianluigi Donnarumma, the replacement Real Madrid needs

Planning for the goalkeeper position is a matter that the white team should start addressing. Thibaut Courtois is 34 years old and, although he remains a reference under the goal, his age makes finding a successor a decision that should not be postponed indefinitely.

In this context, Gianluigi Donnarumma presents a candidacy hard to ignore. At 27 years old, he has experience in AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, the Italian national team, and English football, in addition to winning the 2025 Champions League with the French team.

His career suggests a replacement who wouldn't need several years to adapt to the demands of competing for titles. Donnarumma has been playing at the highest level for over a decade after turning professional at just 16 years old.

Furthermore, his attributes align with Madrid's needs. Standing 1.96 meters tall, he excels in goalkeeping, close-range interventions, and his ability to cover space in shooting situations. Donnarumma appears on Real Madrid's radar.

The addition would also allow for a transition between two generations. It wouldn't necessarily mean immediately displacing Courtois but leveraging a market circumstance to bring in a goalkeeper with a future.

The possible sanction against Manchester City could change the market

The main argument for considering this operation lies in England. Manchester City faces potential sanctions after an independent commission found numerous financial irregularities committed between 2009 and 2018.

Among the possible consequences are fines, point deductions, and even relegation. If a relegation were to happen, the future of several players could be up for discussion.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is under contract until June 2030, with the option to extend, and his market value is 45 million euros. City paid around 30 million to sign him from PSG in September 2025.

This implies that it wouldn't be a simple or necessarily inexpensive deal. There is also no evidence that his contract includes a clause allowing him to leave the club automatically in case of relegation.

Golden opportunity for Real Madrid

However, for Real Madrid, this opportunity would justify at least exploring the conditions for a potential transfer. Not every market presents the chance to bring in a goalkeeper of his experience at 27 years old.

The outcome of City's appeal will be crucial. If the Premier League confirms a sanction that jeopardizes their continuity in the top flight, Madrid should inquire about the availability of Gianluigi Donnarumma and consider his signing as an investment to succeed Thibaut Courtois.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Donnarumma, el sustituto ideal de Courtois en el Real Madrid