Gianluigi Donnarumma’s New Jersey Choice…
Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper and probably the first human to jump higher than a kangaroo on a trampoline, has joined Manchester City in a £26 million deal from PSG. He’s signed a five-year contract with the hopes of guiding City to glory. However, he won’t be sporting the No. 1 jersey thanks to former academy-star-turned-roommate-for-the-jersey James Trafford claiming it first. Instead, Donnarumma will go with No. 99, which isn’t just a number – it’s his birth year and possibly his rank on an imaginary goalkeeping leaderboard of excellence.
During his time in France, Ligue 1’s sporting wardrobe rules made Number 99 as off-limits as a fat-free dessert at a pastry chef contest. Ligue 1’s odd number rule meant he had to settle for No. 1 during regular matches but got his Number 99 wishes like a genie on holiday during UEFA competitions. Now back with the more numerically liberal Premier League, Donnarumma should have no trouble leaving opponents counting the goals his team scores instead, especially with the highly anticipated Manchester Derby right around the corner.
