Gianluca Dimarzio has recently reported that Barcelona are the frontrunners for AC Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer. It is understood that the Catalans are in pole position to recruit the Italian goalie who could be set to leave the Milan giants during this summer transfer period after failing to agree on a new contract (via Gianluca Dimarzio).
Donnarumma’s Impressive Season At San Siro
Donnarumma has enjoyed another solid campaign in Italian football as he has been responsible for producing a string of impressive displays as Milan’s first-choice goalie. The Italian shot-stopper has taken part in 48 matches for his current employers this term, shipping in 54 goals and earning 15 clean sheets across all competitions.
The 22-year-old deserves credit for averaging 0.9 clearances and 5.5 long balls per game in Serie A football this season. He has even distributed the ball relatively well out from the back, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 77% in the top tier of Italian football (stats via whoscored).
At 22, Donnarumma still has plenty of time left in him to taste success at the highest level. Hence, a move to Barcelona in the summer could be a dream option for the player at this stage of his young playing career.
What Will The Italian Keeper Bring To The Nou Camp?
Donnarumma boasts excellent reflexes that enable him to pull off a few world-class saves at the back. He is proficient at making some quick dives to come to his team’s rescue every now and then. The Castellammare di Stabia-born sensation is a solid handler of the ball as he can come out to collect crosses and loose balls using his strong frame inside his penalty box.
However, the Italian custodian needs to work on improving his passing accuracy as he can sometimes give away the ball cheaply on the defensive end of the pitch. Even then, Barca should consider bringing him to Catalonia during this summer transfer period as he could grow into a future star for them.
Donnarumma will bring a lot of quality to Barcelona’s backline but there are some question marks over whether he would be able to fill the big shoes left by Marc Andre ter-Stegen if the Catalans are forced to cash in on their first-choice keeper this summer. However, there is no denying that Donnarumma’s ceiling is sky-high and could turn out to be a decent signing for the La Liga heavyweights before the start of the new campaign.
