AC Milan sporting director, Massimiliano Mirabelli has iterated that the club intend to keep hold of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is a summer target for Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Chelsea and Real Madrid have been handed a major blow in pursuit of Gianluigi Donnarumma. AC Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli has told reporters, including Sky Italia, that the Rossoneri intend to keep the goalkeeping prodigy at San Siro, despite their links with Pepe Reina.
Donnarumma has been widely regarded as one of the most exciting prodigies to have emerged in football in recent years. Having broken into the AC Milan first-team setup at the nascent age of 16, the teenager has grown from strength to strength, and is destined to become the number one for the Italy National Side upon Gianluigi Buffon’s retirement.
2017-18 has been a topsy turvy season for AC Milan, but Donnarumma has been one of the standouts for the side with 19 clean sheets in 41 appearances. His impressive development has unsurprisingly piqued the interest of several top clubs across Europe as well, with Chelsea and Real Madrid those that have been credited with concrete interest.
At Chelsea, the future of Thibaut Courtois is uncertain, with the Belgian admitting that he is eager to move back to Madrid sometime in the future. If Courtois does leave in the summer, the Blues will have Willy Caballero and Eduardo as their other options, with neither inspiring much confidence to be the first-choice goalkeeper.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, are looking to replace Keylor Navas, who has blown hot and cold over the last two seasons. With Kiko Casilla not considered worthy of being a first-choice goalkeeper, Zinedine Zidane has been in search of a goalkeeper, with Chelsea number one Courtois also among those being considered.
Donnarumma is, thus, a viable target for both Chelsea and Real Madrid. But, the European heavyweights have been dealt a major blow in pursuit of the 19-year-old, with AC Milan sporting director, Massimiliano Mirabelli insisting that the club will not even consider selling the teenager.
“Apart from his mistake, he played a great game tonight. We want him to stay with us for a long time. He’s a gem of ours and the whole of Italy and we’re keeping a tight grip on him.”
AC Milan have been heavily linked with Pepe Reina, which had placed doubts on Donnarumma’s future at San Siro. But, Mirabelli’s comments reaffirms that the Spaniard might only be a short-term solution, considering he is already 35. Chelsea and Real Madrid will, thus, have to set their sights elsewhere, with the teenage prodigy likely to stay put.
