The soccer world is still reeling from the horrific injury sustained by Jamal Musiala during the Club World Cup quarterfinal clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. But as serious as the incident itself was, it sparked just as much controversy in the aftermath — especially following the public comments by Manuel Neuer about Gianluigi Donnarumma’s reaction to the collision.
While PSG advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 victory, the mood was clouded by the sight of Musiala being stretchered off the pitch. He has since undergone surgery for a fractured fibula and ligament damage, an injury that could keep him sidelined for four to five months. Yet, as speculation swirled around Donnarumma’s actions, his agent stepped forward — and offered a five-word clarification that reshaped the entire narrative.
In first-half stoppage time, the German star chased a through ball into the box and collided with Donnarumma, who had rushed out to make a save. Replays revealed a brutal impact: Musiala’s left leg twisted unnaturally, sending shockwaves through players and fans alike.
Donnarumma initially walked away from the scene, a gesture that drew immediate criticism — none more pointed than from Neuer himself. “I went up to him and said, ‘Don’t you want to go over to our player?’ It’s only right to go over and wish the guy well. He did that in the end. Fairness is always important… I would have reacted differently,” Neuer told ESPN.
The Bayern captain didn’t stop there, suggesting Donnarumma had made a reckless decision: “It’s a situation where you don’t have to go in like that. That’s risky. He’s willing to accept the risk of injuring his opponent.”
The five words that shifted perspective
Donnarumma’s agent, Enzo Raiola, responded firmly to Neuer’s remarks, defending his client in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport by explaining his behavior with one pivotal phrase: “He’s a very sensitive person.”
Raiola elaborated: “Gigio didn’t want to pretend that nothing had happened. He couldn’t bear to stay there and preferred to walk away so the doctors could give Musiala the best care.”
He revealed that the Italian shot-stopper was so shaken by the incident that he broke his usual pre-match routine. “Usually, he turns off his phone an hour before kick-off to focus on the match. This time, during halftime, he turned it on and sent me a message saying he was deeply upset and that it wasn’t intentional.”
