The buzz starts well before kickoff in udine. You can hear singing from blocks away, see flags hanging off balconies, and every turn seems to lead you straight into another crowd of fans making noise.
Every cool spot has on their TV, all table is full already, and every waiter has half an ear tuned to the match. Street vendors selling drinks keep glancing at nearby screens, trying not to miss the action.
This is the UEFA Super Cup usually a night of pure spectacle. Two European giants squaring up for early-season bragging rights, with silverware on the line before the league grind takes over.
This year is about different buzz. People aren’t just talking about line-ups or formation, it’s more about the off-pitch story leading the headline.
The real story is about who’s missing.
The Omission That Stole the Headlines
Paris Saint-Germain have landed to face Tottenham Hotspur without one of their most recognizable player.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper who played a key role in their last season’s treble win, isn’t even on the bench. No injury, suspension or mysterious illness. He was Just left out.
For PSG fans, it’s a gut punch. You deliver the club its first Champions League title, Ligue 1, and the French Cup in a single season, you expect your place to be untouchable.
Yet tonight, Donnarumma isn’t even in the stadium lineup. For the casual fan, it’s surprising. For PSG supporters, it’s a warning that loyalty in modern football is worth less than they thought.
And if anyone was holding out hope this was just a tactical decision or a minor knock, the news cycle crushed that idea fast.
Donnarumma’s Sudden Drop From Last Season’s Heroics to Missing the Super Cup
Reuters broke the news without sugarcoating it. Donnarumma is out of the squad. His spot goes to Lucas Chevalier, fresh from Lille while Matvey Safonov also makes the trip. No talk of “rotation” or “resting players” for fitness reasons. Just a cold, hard selection decision.
Then came Fabrizio Romano, the human siren for transfer certainty. His update was simple and it wasn’t what PSG fans wanted to hear.
“Donnarumma will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer. The decision was made weeks ago, and PSG have already moved for his replacement.”
No “likely,” no “in talks,” just finality. For many supporters, that was the knockout punch. Transfer rumours are part of the game, but this wasn’t rumour, it was the football equivalent of serving the divorce papers before a big family dinner.
It’s not even unprecedented for PSG. Adrien Rabiot went through something similar back in 2019, when contract talks broke down and he was frozen out before a final. But Rabiot wasn’t the defensive rock of a Champions League-winning side. Donnarumma was. That difference makes this sting harder.
Chevalier Signing Signals a New Direction for PSG
When Lucas Chevalier signed from Lille earlier this month, most assumed he’d be a backup at first, maybe challenge Donnarumma over the season, but certainly not replace him immediately.
At 23, he’s young, confident, and highly rated, but stepping into the gloves of a goalkeeper who has stood between PSG and disaster on so many occasions is a massive ask.
Chevalier is fearless with the ball at his feet, precise in distribution, and fits Luis Enrique’s idea of a goalkeeper as the first line of attack.
For Enrique, the keeper is more than a shot-stopper, he’s a playmaker who's just wearing gloves.
That’s where the difference happens. Donnarumma is a wall. He thrives in the chaos of a one-on-one, has a knack for pulling off impossible saves in the dying minutes, and brings a physical presence that can intimidate even the most clinical striker.
But he’s never been the slickest with his feet. In Enrique’s philosophy, that’s a problem that outweighs even his heroics.
One fan summed it up neatly on X:
“Chevalier is class, but you don’t just throw away a Champions League-winning keeper. Feels like more than tactics.”
They’re right. Style preferences only explain part of this. There’s always more bubbling beneath the surface, wage demands, contract lengths, dressing-room politics, maybe even the simple fact that PSG feel it’s time to freshen things up after their biggest-ever season.
How the Decision Hits the Players Personally
It’s easy to talk about football in terms of systems and spreadsheets, but at the end of the day, these are people. Donnarumma was just 22 when he made the high-profile, high-pressure move from AC Milan to PSG.
He wasn’t just joining a club, he was joining a project under constant scrutiny, with the expectation to deliver the one trophy the Parisians craved most, the Champions League.
Last season, he delivered. His saves in the knockout stages were season-defining. That fingertip stop against Bayern Munich?
Instant folklore. His performance in the final against Inter? Legendary. You could make the case that without him, the treble doesn’t happen.
Now at just 26, the prime of a goalkeeper’s career, he’s on the outside looking in. No farewell parade, no public send-off. Just quietly dropped before one of the season’s marquee matches.
It just shows that even the best players can find themselves left out, once a club decides to move on.
Comparison Of Donnarumma and Chevalier Stat
Statistically, the gap between the two keepers is narrow:
Donnarumma (2024/25)
• 45 games, 20 clean sheets
• 73% save rate
• Excellent in one-on-one situations
• Around 35 passes per game, ~80% completion
Chevalier (2024/25 at Lille)
• 38 games, 16 clean sheets
• 74% save rate
• Over 50 passes per game
• ~88% completion, more progressive passes
On pure shot-stopping, they’re equals. On distribution, Chevalier edges ahead. In Enrique’s PSG, that difference matters. But for fans, numbers don’t replace memories and Donnarumma has plenty of those in his locker.
Tottenham’s Recent Form and Why It Matters In This Match
While the Donnarumma issue has dominated headlines, there’s still a match to be played, and Tottenham aren’t here just to make up the numbers.
Spurs come into this match with both confidence and momentum after winning the Europa League cup.
Postecoglou may have moved on, but the attacking intent and pressing aggression he instilled remain intact.
Maddison will look to dictate tempo, richarlison will drift into dangerous spaces, and Brennan Johnson will push PSG’s defence wide open with his pace.
If Spurs are smart, they’ll test Chevalier early with shoot from distance, send in awkward crosses, press him when he receives the ball at his feet. This is a massive stage for a debut, and any nerves could tilt the balance.
Expert And Fans Views on the PSG vs Tottenham Clash
Fabrizio Romano:
“It’s over between Donnarumma and PSG. The relationship has collapsed completely, and the club is already looking to close his replacement.”
Reuters:
“PSG have omitted Donnarumma from their UEFA Super Cup squad amid ongoing speculation over his future, with Lucas Chevalier and Matvey Safonov selected instead.”
Fan on X:
“The man who helped you lift the Champions League can’t even make the bench. Loyalty’s dead.”
How Chevalier’s Debut Could Change PSG’s Tactics
With Chevalier in goal, PSG’s game plan could look slightly different.
• More patient build-up from the back
• Wider ball circulation to stretch Spurs’ pressing lines
• Quick, accurate counter-attacks launched directly from the keeper
For Spurs, the approach is likely to be:
• Early shots to test the new man
• Crowding him during set-pieces
• Pressing aggressively when he tries to play short passes
If Chevalier adapts instantly, Enrique will be hailed as a genius for making the change early. If he falters, the Donnarumma debate will roar back to life immediately.
History Of Big Names Departures at PSG
If you follow PSG long enough, you see a pattern. Big names don’t always get big goodbyes.
Zlatan Ibrahimović’s contract wasn’t renewed in 2016 despite him breaking club scoring records.
Edinson Cavani, their all-time top scorer, left quietly during the pandemic with no fans in the stadium to send him off. Thiago Silva? Same story.
It’s part of PSG’s identity under Qatari ownership, the club is built to chase the next level, and sentiment rarely plays a role. Donnarumma’s situation is harsh, but it’s far from unique in Paris.
Potential Next Clubs for Donnarumma
The Premier League feels like the most logical next step.
• Manchester United: André Onana has had inconsistent spells, and the club’s defensive structure means they need a reliable last line. Donnarumma would bring presence and calm.
• Chelsea: Despite spending heavily, their goalkeeper situation hasn’t fully stabilised. Donnarumma could slot straight in and bring experience to a young side.
• Newcastle United: If they want to bridge the gap to the top four, upgrading between the sticks could be key.
How Todays Football Leaves No Room for Sentiment
If there’s a moral here, it’s that modern football doesn’t trade in sentiment. A player can go from hero to expendable asset in a matter of weeks.
Clubs now operate like tech companies if they see a newer and more efficient version, they upgrade without hesitation.
From PSG’s perspective, the decision is logical. From the stands, it feels cold. Fans invest emotionally, defend their favourites when form dips, and then watch as boardroom decisions cut the cord without a backward glance.
The Main Talking Point from the Match
The game will have its own drama, goals, saves and tactical chess moves but for many, the lasting image won’t be on the pitch. It’ll be the empty spot on the teamsheet where Donnarumma’s name should be.
Because football isn’t only about who plays. Sometimes, it’s about who doesn’t and the reasons why.