Mannus aims to take a leaf out of Gianluigi’s

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA’S jersey may not take pride of place in Alan Mannus’ house, but it’s a cherished possession all the same.

And even more so after the Italian goalkeeper’s penalty shootout heroics at Wembley to clinch the European Championship trophy at England’s expense on Sunday.

The former AC Milan ace saved the decisive spot kick from Bukayo Saka to ensure football’s ‘coming to Rome’, rather than ‘coming home’.

Mannus – whose own penalty save in Slovakia last week just about keeps Shamrock Rovers in the Champions League hunt tonight – faced Donnarumma last summer.

The pair were at opposite ends of the pitch when Shamrock Rovers went down swinging in a 2-0 Europa League defeat to AC Milan in Tallaght.

And Mannus has nothing but admiration for the rising Italian star, 22, who was also crowned Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020 for good measure.

“I got his top after the game last year,” said Mannus ahead of tonight’s Champions League rescue mission against Slovan Bratislava.

“It’s in the house and I’ve got a few jerseys over the years – Neuer, Ter Stegen, Casillas, Buffon, Donnarumma and a couple of other ones.

“I don’t have them framed. I’m not going to do that. It’s just nice to have them, so I don’t know if I’ll ever do anything with them.

“I don’t put them on the wall or anything. It’s just pretty good to have that (Donnarumma) one and I thought he was brilliant against us last year.

“He’s one of the top goalkeepers in the world.”

Mannus continued: “I was messaging a friend on

Sunday night when the final went to penalties.

“He asked: ‘what do you think?’ and I said ‘I think they’ll save two penalties each’. Just because Donnarumma for who is.

“And Pickford, for all the criticism some of the

English people and media put on him, he’s got a mentality of wanting to prove to everyone he can play at the highest level.

“He’s done really well for England. I still thought he’d save at least two of the five. I thought the save onto the post was brilliant.

“The two of them were excellent all tournament. I do watch penalty shootouts and try to think what side they’re going, but it still becomes a guess.

“A lot of the players do the stutter-and-stop and try to see which way you’re going to go which