AC Milan might consider a potential sale of 17 year old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma according to sources in Italy (Tuttosport) for the price of 40 million euros. Italian media has located in Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona, four possible suitors for the player who only recently became the youngest ever goalkeeper to start a match in the first tier of the Italian League.
Manchester United might find in Donnarumma a long term solution should David de Gea finally decide to depart for the Spanish capital where he grew up with Atletico Madrid. However, the question remains whether Europe’s elite would trust a 17 year old, relatively unproven goalkeeper with a first team slot, in which case the bench seems a likelier option for young Donnarumma should Milan decide to sell him this summer.
The Next Buffon?
There was a buzz surrounding Donnarumma among the local fans when he was playing for Milan’s Primavera teams. Upon promotion to the first team, coach Mihajlovic was quick to bench former Real goalkeeper Diego Lopez to hand Donnarumma his debut at the age of 16 years and 8 months.
The six foot four custodian helped his team to a 2-1 victory over Sassoulo and hasn’t looked back since as he became Milan’s first choice goalkeeper ahead of Lopez as well as his long time mentor Christian Abbiati.
Donnarumma- The Next Buffon?
Having played 22 games so far, Donnarumma is already a hot property in Southern Italy. However Milan management and coaching stuff should handle him with caution. Numerous players who broke into the first team for Milan in the last five years have failed to realise their potential.
It is perhaps this precise reason which might prompt Berlusconi to consider cashing in on his prospect when the going is good and not overplay his hand as he did with Mario Balotelli, Stephan El Sharaawy, Mattia De Sciglio and Alexander Pato.
