When you're 16 you think you have the world in your hands: this is what Gianluigi Donnarumma, born in February 1999, is literally doing.
He is becoming, match after match, the first choice goalkeeper at AC Milan, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world: he took the place of a disappointing Diego Lopez on the 25th of October 2015, when Milan won 2-1 at home against Sassuolo and, since that moment, he's never been dislodged.
And it seems very difficult to see him being dropped anytime soon, because it seems clear that we have in front of us the potential heir of Gianluigi (coincidence?!) Buffon, the one who could give some peace to Italian supporters afraid of what may happen to their national team after the world champion ends his career.
I'm not afraid of the recent rumours that say AC Milan want to take on Salvatore Sirigu, the goalkeeper of PSG and actual backup of Buffon in the national team: I think it would be useful for a youngster like Donnarumma not to feel all the responsibility on his very young shoulders.
Donnarumma needs time to grow up, even if his talents and skills are bright: and Sirigu could be the right man to help him in his process of maturation. He needs this to become a real number one and to be the future of Italy for the next 20 years.
CELLINO WILL DO LEEDS BUYERS NO FAVOURS
What's next on the Massimo Cellino and Leeds United soap opera? Rumors, as usual: the new one is about a possible attempt by the banker and former Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese to take the ownership from Cellino. A sort of Italian derby.
What I'm sure about is that, if Massimo will decide to sell the club, he would do it for a very high price, no favours for anyone. Even for Italians.
BILIC BANGING ON AC MILAN DOOR FOR HONDA
What if at West Ham they start to speak Japanese or, at least, begin writing by Kanji? Nothing strange, my dear readers. In fact the Hammers are close to taking Keisuke Honda from Milan.
Slaven Bilic has knocked on the doors of the Italian club to ask about the availability of the fantasy midfielder from the land of the Rising Sun. The answer has been positive: Honda will leave Milan in January, very likely, and very likely he could join a club that is doing good things in the Premier League, to revamp is career.
Honda arrived in Italy from CSKA Moscow in 2014 and, after a brilliant start, is now fading. In particular AC Milan's management very much disliked his recent words to La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Either Milan start investing as much money as PSG and (Manchester) City or re-examine the structure of the club."
Then he added: “I don't understand, it makes no sense to blame the players. Milan have brought many players and this year they spent €100m. The club must totally change the evaluation criteria in everything, the management, technically, the fans and in the media."
So, the exit door is open to the Japanese who has lost patience.
Source: tribalfootball.com