‘Agent dealing with renewal’, says Man Utd target Donnarumma

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Manchester United will have to look elsewhere for a replacement for David de Gea if he departs, with Gianluigi Donnarumma intent on staying at AC Milan.

The 18-year-old keeper looks like following in the steps of current Italy No 1 Gianluigi Buffon with two Azzurri caps already under his belt after coming up through the international age groups.

Donnarumma is widely regarded as the best young stopper in the world and last month he was linked with a move to United by the Sunday Mirror.

His agent Mino Raiola then further clouded the water of his future by suggesting the youngster deserved a club that matched his own ambition.

Milan are under new ownership and Raiola claimed he was keen to speak to the new board to secure his client’s future

“He doesn’t deserve a great AC Milan, Donnarumma deserves a big club. My job is not being the fan of a club, ” said Raiola last month.

However, the player has stated he intends to remain with the Serie A club, claiming that Raiola is working on a new contract.

“I hope I can stay here because I’m an AC Milan fan,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport upon arriving for international duty at Florence’s railway station. “My agent will deal with the renewal.”

That news will leave Jose Mourinho looking elsewhere for a new stopper if De Gea is lured to Real Madrid in the summer.

Donnarumma, whose current Milan contract is due to expire in June 2018, has made 32 appearances in all competitions this season and had 10 cleansheets.

Amazingly though Donnarumma, who as a sponsorship deal with Puma, is still believed to be on a youth contract.

In December Diario Sport claimed Milan were set to offer the 6ft 5in giant a massive new contract with Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona all interested.

The new deal was estimated to be worth around £82,000-a week (€100,000) – five times more than his current pay packet.

Donnarumma is set to feature in one of Italy’s forthcoming fixtures against Albania in World Cup qualifying or Spain in a friendly.

“Young players need to be managed and fed in drop by drop,” said coach Giampero Ventura on Monday. “We need to prepare for everything. Donnarumma and [Daniele] Rugani, for example, are going to play one or two games.”