AC Milan fans will have been absolutely gutted to hear the news that broke on Thursday afternoon, as 18-year-old goalkeeping sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma will not be signing a new contract with the club.
The news was confirmed by the club after a number of reports had emerged in the Italian press.
Marco Fassone: "Donnarumma ha deciso di non rinnovare" ➡️ https://t.co/FGEFFsM3hT
— AC Milan (@acmilan) June 15, 2017
OFFICIAL - Donnarumma will NOT extend his contract with Milan. Permanent decision. Announced by Raiola and the club. #Milan #transfers
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 15, 2017
40 min meeting. Mino Raiola tells AC Milan their keeper Donnarumma will not sign new £80,000-a-week contract. He's 18. One year left on deal
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) June 15, 2017
This was a shock for the club's fans, as while the club may not be at the heights it has reached in the past, they are undergoing an exiting rebuilding project and were counting on the extremely impressive Donnarumma to be a part of it.
In fact, he was expected to be more than a part, as last summer he insisted he wants to stay at his boyhood club and go on to become captain one day while speaking to la Gazetta dello Sport.
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.
Those quotes will now come back to haunt him, as it seems clear that interest from Real Madrid and PSG have turned his head.
Madrid are believed to be leading the chase, as they have reportedly offered him wages in the region of €6m a year, and that news is music to the ears of Manchester United fans everywhere.
It remains to be seen whether or not Donnarumma will play out the last year of his contract, although the reaction in Milan suggests it may not be a good Idea. In that case he would arrive to replace Keylor Navas next summer, thus giving the club no reason to pursue David De Gea.
He could also make the move this summer and compete with Navas with a view to taking over long term. Again, great for United fans, bad for 'Edurne'.
There is still interest from PSG, and as Mino Raiola has clearly been influential in his decision-making thus far, a big money move from the French giants could get the deal done.
We'll bring you more on this as it develops.
