Ben Foster highlighted the quality of one elite star player ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League visit to the Etihad to face Manchester City on the weekend.
The Red Devils were last in Premier League action before the start of the September break, with Manchester United defeating Burnley 3-2 at Old Trafford in August.
United’s Premier League result over Burnley provided some much-needed breathing room for an under-pressure Ruben Amorim after a rocky start to the new season.
The Red Devils will face two tough upcoming challenges, with United manager Ruben Amorim overseeing his side’s tie with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Following the first Manchester derby of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, United will then be put to the test against rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.
What Ben Foster said about ex-Man Utd target Gianluigi Donnarumma spoke volumes ahead of the match vs Man City
Manchester United were linked with Gianluigi Donnarumma in the summer window amid their pursuit of a new shot-stopper for Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim.
However, the Red Devils ultimately snubbed the chance to move for potential options like Gianluigi Donnarumma and Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez.
Donnarumma’s future at Paris Saint-Germain had been plunged into doubt in the summer and Manchester City successfully landed the 26-year-old Italian ‘keeper.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ben Foster insisted that City have landed themselves a “world-class” player in the form of former PSG star Donnarumma.
“Man City had Ederson; they’ve got [Stefan] Ortega, who is a good stand-in, James Trafford, who is a Premier League goalkeeper, and Gigi Donnarumma, who is a world-class goalkeeper,” he told the ‘Ben Foster AKA The Cycling GK’ podcast.
“That’s the level if you want to be competing. Look at Liverpool with Alisson, Mama [Giorgi Mamardashvili] and they had [Caoimhin] Kelleher.”
Why did Ben Foster spotlight Man City summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma ahead of Man Utd’s Manchester derby clash?
City agreed to pay PSG a reported fee of £26m for Gianluigi Donnarumma and the Italy international’s arrival also marked the end of Ederson’s run at the Etihad.
United were linked with Emiliano Martinez in a late summer swoop if the Red Devils had failed to land Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day this month.
Foster spoke about Donnarumma amid the difficulty of playing between the sticks at United, with the role being “harder” at the Red Devils compared with other clubs.
“Manchester United is the hardest club to play for in the world, especially in that goalkeeping position,” he continued.
“It’s harder than for anyone else.”
United signed Senne Lammens for an initial fee of £18.1m, including add-ons, and the former Royal Antwerp star is set to challenge for the No 1 spot at the club.
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