Manchester City have reassured Gianluigi Donnarumma and other players that there are “no problems” at the club following Monday’s independent commission ruling that found them guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League, according to the goalkeeper’s agent.
Enzo Raiola, speaking to Radio Napoli Centrale, said the verdict would have no bearing on the Italian’s focus as City prepare for a daunting run of fixtures.
“The Manchester City chaos, can it change anything? No, it will change nothing for us or for us. Every so often some story comes out. The club have spoken to Gigio; everyone is calm.
“Now there are important matches against Liverpool and PSG, then sporting justice will take its course. But Gigio has received reassurances from Manchester City,” Raiola said.
This is the first public reaction from inside Donnarumma’s camp since the commission’s findings were published, and they arrive just days before City travel to Anfield to face Liverpool
New boss Maresca faces early test of nerve
The timing could hardly be more awkward for Enzo Maresca. The Italian is expected to be pressed on the case at his press conference on 9 October, with the subject likely to dominate build-up coverage across the weekend’s fixtures.
So far, no City player has spoken publicly on the verdict. Erling Haaland, City’s talisman, was withheld from media duties while on international duty with Norway last week. The decision showed a sign of how carefully the club appears to be managing the fallout as it tries to keep attention on the pitch rather than the boardroom.
Maresca inherited a squad still processing the end of the Guardiola era, and now finds himself needing to shield his players from a story that threatens to overshadow his early weeks in charge.
Donnarumma, signed as City’s long-term successor between the posts, is among several high-profile names at the club whose camps will be watching developments closely.
City’s legal battle with the Premier League
After a lengthy hearing, the independent panel ruled that City were guilty of 114 of the 115 charges relating to financial conduct between 2009 and 2018.
The Premier League said City had used “sham” contracts to inflate revenue and disguise costs, and had arranged funding arrangements worth more than £830million with commercial partners that were not properly declared.
City were also found guilty of all but one charge relating to non-cooperation with the League’s investigation. The commission said a number of senior club witnesses had given evidence that was “untrue and dishonest” in key respects.
City have rejected the findings and lodged an appeal, insisting they hold a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to support their case.
That appeal will be heard by a separate three-person commission, a process expected to take up to 12 weeks, with a decision likely to follow within 30 days of its conclusion.
The scale of any eventual punishment remains the subject of fierce debate across the division. Possible sanctions range from points deductions and fines to the replaying of matches, suspension, compensation payments to rival clubs, and, in the most severe scenarios, relegation or the stripping of titles.
