FT Dream Team Series: Donnarumma or Andre Onana between the sticks?

Here are two young and fantastic goalkeepers important to the game of football. One has been deemed the successor to the Great, Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian national team. The other, a bright talent from Cameroon destined to replace the African Legend, Vincent Enyeama at the hearts of the African audience. Onana at 22 and Donnarumma at 20 is an interesting debate. Both players are playing for big clubs in Europe. The former is the first choice keeper at Ajax and the latter a regular at AC Milan. Here’s your opportunity to find out who is better than the other.

Experience

“The Italian national has played 8 games already including two UEFA Europa League appearances. In those two, he conceded a total of 4 goals as compared to Onana’s one against German Giants, FC Bayern Munich. This proves that the African goalkeeper is currently on top of his game already with Donnarumma yet to keep a clean sheet in European competition. ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

We look at the level at which these young goalkeepers are playing at their respective clubs. Ajax is an important team in the Dutch Eredivisie and the elite competition in Europe, the UEFA Champions League. This means that Onana gets to be tested by the best forwards in Europe. Experience is key to a player’s development and the Cameroon international has just that. Donnarumma on the other hands, is at the struggling Milan club who are playing in the UEFA Europa League. As a result, Onana might just be in a more conducive environment for becoming a top goalkeeper, being surrounded by good players and playing at a high level.

Competition

Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy gestures during the UEFA Nations League A group three match between Portugal and Italy at on September 10, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.

(Sept. 9, 2018 - Source: Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe)

Apart from that, assessing the level competition from within the club is also important in trying to understand the factors leading to a player’s development. Some argue to say that the best players have to compete with a good player for a starting spot. Donnarumma has Reina to keep him at his toes at AC Milan. However, some players went on to become legends without having another good substitute to compete with for the starting spot. Take Gianluigi Buffon for example. Juventus had faith in the goalkeeper since the early 2000s and he played first team football until 2018. Onana is in the very same situation as the Juventus as he is trusted by Ajax to protect the goal line. We assume that the African will take advantage of this opportunity and go on to have a great career.

Current Stats

What is a debate without facts and numbers? We also looked at what WhoScored had to say about these two players. The Italian national has played 8 games already including two UEFA Europa League appearances. In those two, he conceded a total of 4 goals as compared to Onana’s one against German Giants, FC Bayern Munich. This proves that the African goalkeeper is currently on top of his game already with Donnarumma yet to keep a clean sheet in European competition.

Hype

Andre Onana of Ajax celebrates as Donny van de Beek of Ajax scores their first goal during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord at Amsterdam ArenA on January 21, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Jan. 20, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

Also, hype is something that comes natural to a young player that is given an odd opportunity to show what they are made of at a big club. Donnarumma is no exception. The Italian has received so much hype around him that his valuation skyrocketed to £100 million just a year ago. Since he made his debut at a young age, some analysts rushed to conclude that he was the next Gianluigi Buffon which has since piled pressure on the teenage goalkeeper. The 19 year old has nothing to show for this hype as he is still yet to win a trophy with his club let alone qualify for the biggest club competition in Europe. In contrast, Andre Onana is somewhat an unknown character in the most prominent media coverage. Little is known about him which has allowed him to express himself without any unnecessary pressure. Because of that, the Cameroonian international is in a privileged situation which is working to his favor.

Weaknesses

As much as we try to focus on the positives, one has to consider the weaknesses that these young goalkeepers need to overcome if they are to be named amongst the greatest of all time. It is no secret that both struggle to deal away with crosses in the box. This is something many players in their position struggle with. Petr Cech of Arsenal is not the best at dealing away with danger in the box when it comes from the wings. Donnarumma however, still lacks maturity in some aspects of his game. He is well known for his lapses in concentration which cast doubt on his future and whether he will realize his true potential if he carries on like that. Onana on the other hand, struggles with the ball at his feet. He is still yet to master long passes to the forwards in the front which is an asset in modern day soccer.

With all that, whom would you rather have playing in your dream team?

Juventus wins Coppa Italia 2018

In an old Italian rival clash between Juventus and AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final, three African players made it to the starting XI. Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah was deployed in the left back position for Juventus next to Morrocan defender Mehdi Benatia, while Ivory Coast international, Franck Kessié was at the heart of the midfield for Gattuso’s AC Milan. Asamoah and Kessié were looking to shine in a cup final because that’s all they had to fight for since their national teams failed to qualify to this year’s FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. As it was a final, there could only be one winner at the end of the match and Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus pulled through with a convincing 4-0 win.

The result, however, could not have been predicted after having watched the first period of the match. The Bianconeri were on par with AC Milan as both teams failed to score a single goal even though they both created a few decent chances. The second half saw a mean-looking Juventus side that has been dominating Italy in the past decade. First, it was Miralem Pjanic’s corner that found its way to an unmarked Mehdi Benatia who headed past Gianluigi Donnarumma on the 56th minute. The goalkeeper could not keep out Douglas Costa’s shot from going in just 6 minutes later as his effort bounced off the keeper’s chest before finding its way into the net. Morrocan international Benatia was at hand again to score Juventus’ 3rd goal after Donnarumma dropped it in the box. Pjanic once again delivered a cross that was flicked in by Kalinic to confirm Juventus’ 4-0 against AC Milan in the cup final. Congrats to the Bianconeri!

Arsenal win 3-1 at home

Arsene Wenger set up his Arsenal team to play out their way into the quarter-final. It was clear from his tactics that the team went into the match just to dominate possession and frustrate Milan with an aim to counter them on the break. Calhanoglu’s goal came as a shocker for the Gooners and acted as a wakeup call for the home side as Danny Welbeck was tripped in the 18 area and scored the resulting penalty kick. The referee blew the whistle for halftime with the teams at level pegging. The second half was not the same. Granit Xhaka did what he does best in the 71st minute as he scored a long-range effort past Gianluigi Donnarumma who should have done better as the ball slipped under his arms and into the net. At 2-1, it was a mountain to climb for Gattuso’s men and Arsenal rubbed the salt on the wounds when Danny Welbeck scored the third in the 86th minute. That goal confirmed the elimination of the Milan giants who really deserve better. It is a shame that such a match between the two clubs has lost the hype as the teams have dropped a level and are no longer competing at the highest level. Next up is the UEFA Europa League draw. Will Arsenal have what it takes to sweep past everyone that comes their way and qualify for next year’s UEFA Champions League? Only time will tell.