Gianluigi Donnarumma

Gianluigi Donnarumma
Personal information
Full name Gianluigi Donnarumma
Date of birth (1999-02-25) 25 February 1999
Place of birth Castellammare di Stabia, Italy
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Milan
Number 99
Youth career
2013–2015 Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2015– Milan 28 (0)
National team‡
2014 Italy U15 2 (0)
2014 Italy U16 3 (0)
2014–2015 Italy U17 10 (0)
2016– Italy U21 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2016

Gianluigi Donnarumma (born 25 February 1999) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Milan and the Italy U-21 national team.[2]

Club career

Milan

Donnarumma arrived at Milan's youth academy in 2013.

During the 2014–2015 season he received his first called up to Milan's senior team by manager Filippo Inzaghi and sat on the bench in a league match only 15 years old.

2015–16 season and reception

At the beginning of the 2015–16 season, he was promoted to Milan's senior team by new manager Siniša Mihajlović as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Diego López and Christian Abbiati. He was in the squad for the pre-season tour of China in July 2015, where Milan was set to face Inter and Real Madrid in the 2015 International Champions Cup.[3] He made his debut against the latter on 30 July by replacing starting keeper Diego López in the 72nd minute, keeping a clean-sheet for the rest of the match, but was one of two Milan players to miss his penalty shootout attempt in an eventual 10–9 loss.[4]

On 25 October 2015, Donnarumma made his competitive debut, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 Serie A win against Sassuolo at the San Siro stadium. He was chosen instead of López after three matches without a win,[5] and became the youngest goalkeeper ever to start a match in the history of Italian football, at the age of 16 years and 8 months.[6] He was praised for his performance, with head coach Mihajlović and number one goalkeeper López calling him "the future of Italian football."[7][8] Donnarumma had his first clean sheet three days later against Chievo Verona in a 1–0 win. Since then Donnarumma has gained attention in the media for his impressive performances at such a young age. On 28 November, Italian agent Mino Raiola heaped praise on Donnarumma, calling him "a work of art".[9] At the end of October 2015, Christian Abbiati lavished praise on Donnarumma's "God-given talent". "Few people have this kind of quality at 16," Abbiati stated. "The Lord looked down on him and said, 'You need to be a goalkeeper.'"[10] Mihajlović asked the media to go easy on the teenage goalkeeper. He explained that Donnarumma was too young to be judged the same way as the other players. "Those that judge him for every incident should put themselves in his shoes: he is 16 years old," the manager pointed out.[10] The president of Milan's youth sector, Filippo Galli, had spoken to La Gazzetta dello Sport about the "impressive display" by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the TIM Trophy and he called him "an enormous talent who is destined for a great future". AC Milan Primavera coach Cristian Brocchi also praised the teenager on his Twitter profile.[11] On 8 November 2015, Milan forward M'Baye Niang hailed Donnarumma, insisting that "his heroic display was the reason Milan escaped with a point against Atalanta". "We see every day what Donnarumma is capable of," Niang told the club's website. "Today he saved us, we have to congratulate him and he deserves all the praise." [12][13] In 2015, he was named one of the top 100 young footballers in the world born after 1994 by Don Balón.[14]

On 4 January 2016, 1982 FIFA World Cup winning Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff voiced his praise for Donnarumma, stating that "Donnarumma has great qualities which allow him to play in Serie A at 16"; Zoff added that "he seems to be predestined to become a great goalkeeper, and it all depends completely on him."[15] Donnarumma played his first Derby della Madonnina against city rivals Internazionale on 31 January, notably stopping Éder from scoring in Milan's 3–0 victory.[16] In early March, Donnarumma signed a new three-year deal with Milan, which would keep him at the club until 2019.[17] Later that month, he collided with Fabrizio Cacciatore in the 20th minute of a game against Chievo, resulting in a head injury and a stay in hospital.[18]

International career

Donnarumma was the starting goalkeeper for the Italian U-17 team at the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[19]

On 5 November 2015 he received his first call up to the Italian U-21 team, ahead of fixtures against Serbia and Lithuania.[20] He made his debut for the Under-21 side on 24 March 2016, in a 4–1 win over the Republic of Ireland, becoming the youngest player ever to play for the team at age 17.[21][22]

Style of play

Donnarumma is widely regarded as "The new Buffon" and has long been considered one of Italy's most exciting prospects.[23] Italian agent, Mino Raiola, claimed in April that "At Ajax or Atlético Madrid, he (Donnarumma) would already have played on the first team."[24] ESPN has praised him for his large frame, strength, and reach, describing him as "...a tall, agile goalkeeper whose physique and composure belie his tender years. He appears unfazed by the publicity surrounding him and continues to go about his work in a focused, mature manner. He is a natural leader who already has the necessary confidence to organise a defence featuring players twice his age."[25] Paolo Menicucci and Mina Rzouki have also praised Donnarumma's performances, but have also cited his need to improve his ball control, positioning, and his ability to defend crosses as he gains more experience.[23][26]

Personal life

Donnarumma was born in Castellammare di Stabia in the Province of Naples on 25 February 1999 of his father Alfonso and his mother Marinella. Donnarumma's older brother, Antonio, is also a goalkeeper who, having come through Milan's youth system, now represents Genoa.[27]

He has always supported A.C. Milan[24] but grew up idolising Juventus and Italian national team goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon. Buffon later praised Donnarumma for being able to cope with the pressures of being a goalkeeper at such a young age.[28][29]

Career statistics

As of 1 May 2016[30]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Milan 2015–16 Serie A28000––280
Career total 28000––––280

References

  1. ↑ "Gianluigi Donnarumma".
  2. ↑ "AC Milan profile". AC Milan. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Milan squad for China tour". Forza Italian Football. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Real Madrid 0-0 AC Milan (pens 10-9): 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma misses decisive spot kick in friendly". Daily Mail. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Teenage keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma plays in AC Milan win". BBC Sport. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Football Italia staff (27 October 2015). "Donnarumma 'only wanted Milan'". Football Italia. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Rogerson, Matthew (6 November 2015). "Mihajlovic: Donnarumma is the future of Italian football". Goal.com. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Justin Davis (25 October 2015). "Lopez unruffled despite losing gloves to teenager Donnarumma". Yahoo. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Agent: AC Milan keeper Donnarumma work of art".
  10. 1 2 "Serie A Talking Points: Roma's rabbits, 'shameful Higuain' & Pioli under pressure - Goal.com". Goal.com.
  11. ↑ "Breaking News: FILIPPO GALLI AND CRISTIAN BROCCHI PRAISE GIGIO DONNARUMMA".
  12. ↑ "Gianluigi Donnarumma saved AC Milan - M'Baye Niang - Goal.com". Goal.com.
  13. ↑ Onefootball. "Niang: Donnarumma saved Milan". Onefootball.
  14. ↑ "La lista dei 101 migliori giovani talenti del calcio mondiale" [The list of the 101 best young talents in world football] (in Italian). Eurosport. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  15. ↑ Football Italia staff (5 January 2016). "Zoff: ‘Donnarumma will be great’". Football Italia. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  16. ↑ Cooke, Crippy (31 January 2016). "AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma Puts on Goalkeeping Masterclass in the Derby della Madonnina". 90min. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  17. ↑ "Milan tie down Donnarumma". Football Italia. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "European football round-up: What you may have missed". BBC Sport. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  19. ↑ "Inventive Edouard double inspires France". UEFA.com. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Under 21, Di Biagio chiama Donnarumma e Berardi per Serbia e Lituania" [Under 21, Di Biagio calls up Donnarumma and Berardi for Serbia and Lithuania]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  21. ↑ Luca Bianchin (24 March 2016). "Under 21, le pagelle di Irlanda-Italia" [Under 21, the report cards of Ireland-Italy] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "U21: Ireland-Italy line-ups". Football Italia. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  23. 1 2 Paolo Menicucci (14 November 2015). "Weekly wonderkid: Gianluigi Donnarumma". UEFA.com. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  24. 1 2 Simone Gambino (25 October 2015). "The new Buffon? Milan turn to 16-year-old sensation Donnarumma". goal.com. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  25. ↑ Nick Dorrington (17 November 2015). "AC Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and echoes of Buffon". ESPN FC. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  26. ↑ Matt Davis (20 November 2015). "Gianluigi Donnarumma: The 16-year-old hoping to emulate Buffon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  27. ↑ Francesco Oddi (25 October 2015). "Donnarumma, storia di un predestinato, da Castellammare al Milan, in A a 16 anni" [Donnarumma, the story of a future star, from Castellamare to Milan, in Serie A at 16] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  28. ↑ "Donnarumma: 'Buffon my idol'". Football Italia. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  29. ↑ "Buffon: ‘Donnarumma a top ‘keeper’". Football Italia. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  30. ↑ Gianluigi Donnarumma profile at Soccerway

External links

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