Man United's goalkeeper situation is complicated enough as it is, with Dean Henderson and David de Gea locked in a battle for the number 1 jersey. Now, Damien Duff has suggested throwing a spanner in the works, as he called for Man United to sign Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Donnarumma has been playing for AC Milan since 2015, and has amassed 251 appearances for them despite only turning 22 in February. He is also Italy's first choice in goal, and Duff was full of praise for him after he kept his second clean sheet of EURO 2020 in Italy's 3-0 win over Switzerland.
After 180 minutes at #EURO2020, Gianluigi Donnarumma has played as many passes into the final third as he has made saves [1].
If Italy keep playing like this he may as well go home. 😎 pic.twitter.com/pCHYZY2psO— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) June 16, 2021
Premier League winner Duff was in the RTÉ studio after the game and he and Liam Brady praised the Italian performance. Duff reserved a special word, though, for Donnarumma, and urged Man United to go after the Milan keeper.
He was top class. What fascinated me before the game reading about him - he's on a free transfer in two weeks, on July the 1st. Incredible - he's been AC Milan number 1 since he was 16, he's now 22.
I'm thinking in the Premier League who's looking for a goalkeeper? One that jumps out at me is Man United. De Gea can't last much longer. Henderson - not good enough. Supposedly the biggest club in the world - can you go and break the bank and get him?
Sticking point: Mino Raiola, who is Pogba's agent. Obviously had a few run ins with Man United. But this goalkeeper here could be your number one for the next 20 years. He's 22, he's the heir to Buffon's throne. Buffon, I think, is 42, so there's 20 years difference! Keepers now with the longevity they can go on and on and on.
You can see this lad's quality. 22 years of age, he's been number one already for six years.
I'll throw it out there - Man United fans, go get him, he's on a free transfer.
The addition of Donnarumma at Man United would certainly be an unexpected move. The battle between Dean Henderson and David de Gea has already forced Sergio Romero out of Old Trafford, so adding another world class goalkeeper to the mix would be a bold strategy for United.
It can't be denied, though, that he is indeed a world class player, and it's hard to imagine Man United fans disapproving if the club were to sign him.
Nonetheless, we have to take the suggestions with a pinch of salt. Rumours abound that the 22-year-old has already signed with PSG, though nothing official has been announced just yet.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will sign his contract with Paris Saint-Germain until June 2026 in the next few days - no doubt. 🔴 #PSG
Gianluigi Buffon will re-join Parma 26 years later, official announcement this week. #Parma
Both deals are done. Italian goalkeepers moving. 🧤🇮🇹— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 16, 2021
Liam Brady, who spent seven years of his career in Italy, also chimed in with praise for Donnarumma, particularly about his ability to play the ball.
He's such a big man, you wouldn't think he'd be so adept with his feet, but he's excellent. To be able to pass it like that, you have to see all the pitch, so he's obviously a very talented boy. Very talented lad.
It's still unclear where Gianluigi Donnarumma is headed this summer - but, if negotiations with PSG break down, it will be interesting to see whether Man United swoop to further bolster their options in goal.
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