AC Milan’s goalkeeping prodigy, 17-year old Gianluigi Donnarumma, has shocked almost everybody with his sudden ascension into the senior team and the outstanding displays to go with it. Born in Castellammare di Stabia in Naples on the 25th February 1999, Italy’s newest goalkeeping sensation was first inducted into Milan’s youth system at the tender age of 14.
His promotion to the first-team did not come as a surprise to anybody within the Milan establishment, with Filippo Inzaghi giving him his first taste of professional football, placing him on the bench against Cesena at just 15 years old in the 2014/15 season.
The Shot stopper’s youth team coaches at international level were also quick to heap praise on him, with his former Italy under-17 coach labelling him as ‘the national team goalkeeper of the future.’ Donnarumma went from an unknown teenager to Milan’s first-choice keeper in his first season with the senior team in 2016-17, having debuted in October.
The 17-year-old’s exploits have attracted the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, though Silvio Berlusconi has been quick to insist the Italian is not for sale. The teenager has attracted the interest of clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea in the summer but decided to stay put at Italy where he aims to fulfil his dream.
The Keeper wants to be the captain of AC Milan and his love for Milan was revealed in his comments made to La Gazetta dello sport. The teenager remarked, “I really like the idea of renewing my contract and I also like to think I will have a lasting relationship with Milan for the coming years. I’ve always been a Milan supporter and I must say the captain’s armband is a dream of mine, a crowning achievement in my career path. Obviously though, one thing at a time.”
AC Milan had to endure a rough patch when the team of the superstars who dominated the 2000’s eventually left the team or retired. This season though, the San Siro team has made a bright start with manager Vincenzo Montella looking like a person getting things right on the pitch for the team after a long time.
The squad is balanced and most importantly filled with some young players with fantastic abilities just like the young goalkeeper. Donnarumma has already displayed glimpses of his outstanding reflexes making some gravity defying saves to help others realise how far he can go when he gets older and more matured.
Sometimes it is really a surprise to even think that he is still 17 and playing at that level in the Serie A almost single-handedly earning his team points on occasions. It is necessary now for the player to make full use of the conditions and familiar environment he has at Milan and concentrate on where he is for the future without thinking of a move to anywhere else.
While to have him in the Premier League will be fantastic, it is too early and also perhaps inappropriate for the goalie to move out of Serie A where he has all he needs to develop into a real world class keeper.
