By Phil Haigh
Thibaut Courtois has stuck up for under-fire Gianluigi Donnarumma (Picture: Getty Images)
Real Madrid鈥檚 Thibaut Courtois has backed PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after he came in for criticism for his part in Jamal Musiala鈥檚 horror injury.
PSG beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup on Saturday, but the match was overshadowed by a serious injury for the Bayern star.
There was an awkward collision between Donnarumma and Musiala, with the Germany international falling, with his leg briefly trapped between the pitch and the goalkeeper鈥檚 body.
The incident ended with a clear broken bone, with the German鈥檚 leg bent horribly and players looking shocked.
Bayern confirmed on Sunday: 鈥楯amal Musiala suffered a fibula fracture and an ankle dislocation and will be sidelined for a long period of time.鈥
Donnarumma had dived to grab the ball at the feet of Musiala and while he clearly didn鈥檛 intend to injury him, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was not impressed.
鈥業t was a situation where you don鈥檛 have to go in like that,鈥 said the German 鈥榢eeper. 鈥楾hat鈥檚 risk-taking. He was prepared to accept the risk of injuring his opponent.鈥
Donnarumma grabbed the ball from Musiala鈥檚 feet (Picture: Getty Images)
The Bundesliga giant鈥檚 sporting director, Max Eberl, also criticised the Italian, telling Sky: 鈥榃hen I jump onto his [Musiala鈥檚] lower leg while sprinting, weighing 100 kg, there鈥檚 a high risk of something happening.
鈥業 don鈥檛 think he did it intentionally, but he also wasn鈥檛 being considerate.鈥
Bruttissimo scontro di gioco: Musiala esce in barella 馃様Donnarumma non riesce a trattenere le lacrime 馃槩#PSGBayernMonaco #FIFACWC #DAZN pic.twitter.com/bWwN2uy0vs鈥 DAZN Italia (@DAZN_IT) July 5, 2025
Courtois, though, is not having it, believing Donnarumma was within his rights to go for the ball and the injury was just an awful and unfortunate accident.
鈥楤laming Donnarumma for Musiala 鈥榮 injury seems excessive to me,鈥 said the Belgian of Neuer鈥檚 comments. 鈥楪oalkeepers go for the ball. Forwards don鈥檛 hold back when they get in our way either.
鈥業t鈥檚 bad luck. It will hurt him more because he鈥檚 on his team, but Donnarumma isn鈥檛 to blame.鈥
Donnarumma was visibly upset by what happened (Picture: Getty Images)
Donnarumma was clearly distraught by what had happened, in tears on the field as Musiala was stretchered off at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
He posted on Instagram after the match: 鈥楢ll my prayers and well wishes are with you @jamalmusiala10 馃檹馃徑.鈥
The Italian will be back in action on Wednesday as PSG take on Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup after the Spanish side edged out Borussia Dortmund 3-2.
On the other side of the draw, Chelsea take on Brazilian outfit Fluminense on Tuesday at 8pm UK time.