Neuer criticises PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma following Jamal Musiala injury

Paris Saint-Germain progressed to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup thanks to a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Atlanta. However, the game will perhaps be remembered more for the moment on the stroke of half-time, when Gianluigi Donnarumma collided with Jamal Musiala.

With the clock ticking down to half-time, Donnarumma came to collect the ball, going around the back of Musiala and colliding with the Germany international in the process. The severity of the Bayern Munich midfielder’s injury was immediately evident, with Donnarumma looking distressed and emotional.

Musiala was taken off on a stretcher. He is now set to be sidelined for at least four months with a fractured fibula. Bayern Munich, like everyone else, feared worse.

Donnarumma’s opposite number, Manuel Neuer, has now come out and criticised the Italian. “It was a situation where it wasn’t necessary to intervene like that,” began the Bayern Munich goalkeeper in a post-match interview.

He continued, “He took a risk. He was ready to accept the risk of injuring his opponent. I told him: ‘Do you not want to go and see our player?’ It is a question of respect to go and see him and wish him good luck. Then he went and did it.”

However, Courtois came to the defence of the PSG goalkeeper. “Blaming Donnarumma seems excessive to me. Goalkeepers will go for the ball. Attackers don’t hold back when they come towards us either. It’s a stroke of bad luck. It hurts him (Neuer) more because it is his teammate, but Donnarumma isn’t responsible,” said the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle