Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola to engage in a race to sign AC Milan wonderkid goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
According to a report by The Sun, Pep Guardiola has also joined in the race to sign AC Milan’s teen goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, even as earlier reports strongly linked Donnarumma to an Old Trafford move.
The wonder kid who just turned 18 recently has a year left on his current deal with the Italian club, and has reportedly confided among his friends that he will be heading to the Premier League by the end of this season.
With both Manchester clubs eyeing Donnarumma, it might be a tough choice for the youngster, since both clubs have their own unique set of pros and cons.
As far as the youngster is concerned, he broke into AC Milan’s team when he was merely 16 years old, and has carved out a place for himself within a span of two years. Despite debuting at such a young age, Donnarumma has become a favourite at San Siro ever since he replaced veteran first choice keeper Diego Lopez.
In fact, he has already made close to 70 appearances for AC Milan so far. Given his physique and vigilant goalkeeping skills, the young keeper is seen as the ideal replacement for Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon in the national team once he retires.
He is represented by Mino Raiola, who also represents Paul Pogba. The amount of money involved in Pogba’s deal speaks for itself, and Raiola will definitely charge a higher sum for a player of Donnarumma’s potential, who is easily one of the best upcoming goalkeepers across Europe.
Manchester City are willing to shell out £70,000-a-week wages to bring him to the Etihad. Although Guardiola is playing with Claudio Bravo as his first-choice keeper, the Chilean has had a difficult start to his career so far in the Premier League.
Donnarumma will not get first team duties immediately at City, he will have to compete with Bravo, even though the latter is out with a calf injury.
He will have better chances at Manchester United since rumours are rife about David De Gea moving to Real Madrid this summer. De Gea’s move has been on the horizon for a while, and hence, Mourinho will need somebody solid to replace him.
Irrespective of which club he chooses finally, it will be a delight to watch a player like Donnarumma in the Premier League, who is often touted as the ‘next Gianluigi Buffon’ from Italy.
