Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 7y

Donnarumma's new AC Milan deal complicated by Mino Raiola - Mirabelli

AC Milan's new sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli says he is certain that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma wants to sign a new contract with the club, but the hardest part will be convincing his agent Mino Raiola.

Donnarumma's contract is up for renewal next summer and most of Europe's top clubs are keeping a close eye on developments with the 18-year-old Italy international in high demand.

Mirabelli arrived as part of the recent takeover by Chinese investors and he has made it one of his priorities to secure the goalkeeper's future with the club intent on rebuilding upon the solid foundations he provides.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia on Sunday, Mirabelli shared his optimism in being able to convince Donnarumma to remain with the club he has always supported, although he said that does not automatically mean he will sign.

"All we needed to do was look Donnarumma in the eyes to see if he wants to stay at Milan, and we could see that he wants to," Mirabelli said. "But now we have also got to talk with his agent.

"We wanted to talk with him to understand how much the lad is attached to these colours. Milan are still an attractive club, considering that together with Real Madrid we are the club with the most titles in world football. Now, after we have seen what his intentions are, we will speak with his agent, but that is the most difficult part.

"I want Donnarumma to write history with this club and we agree on everything with [coach Vincenzo] Montella. Renewing both of their contracts is important."

Raiola has already cast doubt over whether Donnarumma will commit to a long-term future with Milan, saying several times that he will first wait to see how ambitious the club's new owners are.

The Rossoneri have failed to qualify for Europe for the past three seasons and they are struggling once again this term, which is why Raiola would prefer to wait and see whether the new owners will deliver the investment in new players this coming summer that will render them more competitive next term.

Mirabelli has tried to put his mind at rest by saying that the club's new owners are serious about making Milan great again.

"The owners have given us their availability and they have big ideas and projects," Mirabelli said. "We're looking to bring in some functional new elements and to raise the technical level, which is already very high, so that we can compete wherever we want.

"Milan are a special entity and we know what our objectives are, and what our project is. We're just asking for patience to let us get on with what we have to do."

Milan's 2-1 defeat to Empoli on Sunday has left them five points behind Atalanta, who occupy the final qualifying berth for a place in the Europa League next season. However, since league leaders Juventus face fourth-placed Lazio in the Coppa Italia final -- and with both likely to finish inside the top five -- that would mean Milan's current position of sixth would also be enough to qualify for Europe.

Milan are currently two points clear of city rivals Inter Milan and three ahead of Fiorentina in what is set to be a three-team battle for that Europa League qualifying berth over the final five games of the season.

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