Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 7y

Gianluigi Donnarumma keen to sign new AC Milan contract

AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has said that he intends to remain with the Serie A club, adding that his agent is working on a new contract.

There has been talk of Donnarumma, 18, leaving Milan this summer with his agent Mino Raiola saying he first wishes to find out whether the club's new owners will be able to match his client's ambitions before determining his future.

The Italy international, however, appears to be more open to extending his stay at the San Siro than his representative does.

"I hope I can stay here because I'm an AC Milan fan," he was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport upon his arrival for international duty at Florence's railway station. "My agent will deal with the renewal."

Donnarumma's current Milan deal is due to expire in 2018, although he is still on youth terms and has yet to sign a professional contract, despite turning 18 last month.

His consistent performances since becoming Milan's first-choice goalkeeper 18 months ago have led to parallels being drawn with current Italy No. 1 Gianluigi Buffon.

The man who launched the 39-year-old's career at Parma over 20 years ago says he can picture Donnarumma enjoying a similar career.

"When I look at the Milan goalkeeper, it feels like I am going back 20 years," former Parma coach Nevio Scala told Gazzetta dello Sport. "They are so similar and he is going to be Buffon's successor."

That succession, at least for the Italy national team, is likely to happen following the 2018 World Cup, when Buffon is expected to retire.

Donnarumma is, however, set to play in one of Italy's upcoming games against Albania in World Cup qualifying or Spain in a friendly, coach Giampiero Ventura announced at a news conference on Monday.

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

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