Gianluigi Donnarumma's Man Utd heartbreak as PSG transfer agreement surfaces

Manchester United's hopes of signing Gianluigi Donnarumma remain alive, and he could join a handful of members of the squad which ended his hopes of a farewell trophy with AC Milan. The Italian goalkeeper left the Rossoneri in the summer of 2021, a few months after losing to United in the Europa League.

Four years on from that game, Donnarumma is being linked with a United switch - and not for the first time. His current club Paris Saint-Germain are said to have a deal in place for Lille keeper Lucas Chevalier, and it remains to be seen whether their current No.1 will stay and fight for his spot.

It was back in 2017 that United were previously linked, only for the Italian to extend his stay in Milan. When United took on Donnarumma's Milan in March 2021, though, that deal had entered its final year with no sign of an extension.

At the time of the first leg at Old Trafford, Stefano Pioli's Milan had relinquished top spot after successive defeats in February, including a 3-0 derby loss to Inter. United also sat second but with a bit more momentum, coming into the first leg after winning their own derby.

It was a different case in Europe, where United had dropped into the Europa League after finishing third in their group below PSG and RB Leipzig. But they came out on top against Donnarumma and his team-mates.

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Amad opened the scoring at Old Trafford with his first ever goal for the club. Simon Kjaer grabbed a late Milan goal, though, leaving the game delicately poised - with the away goals rule still a factor.

Just three members of United's starting XI from the away leg are still at the club: Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes (along with currently out-on-loan Marcus Rashford). A fourth current United player got minutes against them that day, with Diogo Dalot able to play against his parent club during a Milan loan and playing the final 25 minutes.

It was one of United's subs who scored the winner, though. Record signing Paul Pogba came on for Rashford at the break, and took less than three minutes to score the only goal of the tie.

Dean Henderson, not Donnarumma, who made a key goalkeeping contribution in that second leg. His big late stop denied former United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic and ensured the Red Devils made it through.

They made it all the way to the final, eventually losing on penalties to Villarreal, and clinched second spot in the league. Milan were runners-up themselves in Italy, and Donnarumma decided it was time for a move after winning Euro 2020 with the Azzurri.

Four years on, though, Donnarumma's next move could take him to Old Trafford. There will be no European football available to him this term, thanks to another Europa League final defeat for United, but he has a chance to leave Paris as a Champions League winner before taking on a new challenge.

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