Gianluigi Donnarumma revealed he was unaware Italy had beaten England when making the decisive save on Bukayo Saka s penalty in the Euro 2020 final.
The 22-year-old also kept out Jadon Sancho s attempt from the spot, while Marcus Rashford hit the post, as Italy prevailed 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time at Wembley.
Donnarumma s reaction to saving Saka s attempt was muted, with the goalkeeper calmly walking away before being mobbed by his team-mates.
But he has explained his response to helping Italy clinch their first European Championship crown since 1968 was due to him losing track of the score, rather than being in complete control of his emotions.
I didn t realise we had won, he told Sky Sport Italia. I looked at the referee and tried to understand if everything was okay.
Then I turned to my team-mates and they ran towards me. From there everything started. I didn t understand anything.
Donnarumma was named UEFA s Player of the Tournament after his heroics against England, which followed a crucial penalty save in the semi-final shoot-out win against Spain.
The 719 minutes racked up by Donnarumma was the most by any player at Euro 2020; he missed only the closing stages of Italy s win against Wales in the group stage.
He is now expected to complete a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain following the expiration of his contract at Milan, where he had spent his entire career.
I will always be tied to the Rossoneri, Donnarumma said when asked about his future. For now, I m just going to enjoy the party and then enjoy a vacation.
I will always be a Milan fan and I wish them all the best in the world.
Donnarumma has now won all five of the shoot-outs he has been involved in with club and country in his career, three of those for Milan.
In his final season at San Siro, he kept 14 clean sheets in Serie A – a joint-high along with Inter s Samir Handanovic – to help Milan to their highest league finish since 2012.
