Gianluigi Donnarumma to Manchester United: AC Milan goalkeeper worth '170m euros', claims agent Mino Raiola
The 16-year-old is already first choice at Milan and is being watched by Europe's biggest clubs
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United have been warned off launching a move for AC Milan’s wonder-goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after his agent slapped a €170m price tag on the 16-year-old’s head.
Football agent Mino Raiola, who also represents former Milan striker and current Paris Saint-Germain superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, believes that the goalkeeper will rise to the very top of the game, despite still being in his mid-teens.
Although most young boys his age are occupied with things like A-levels, sneaking out of the house without getting caught and playing FIFA, Donnarumma is busy trying to restore Milan’s status as one of Serie A’s powerhouse clubs, having suffered a dramatic dip in recent seasons.
Donnarumma is already first choice at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, having displaced former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez this season after the ultimate show of faith from manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, who threw the youngster in at the deep end for the Seria A clash with Sassuolo last month and has stuck with him since.
He has conceded three goals in five games, with clean sheets coming in the 1-0 win over Chievo and the goalless draw with Atalanta, and his rapid rise has seen a number of high-profile clubs across Europe take notice of the stopper.
However, with United one of those showing interest, Raiola has already fuelled the transfer rumour mill by claiming any move for Donnarumma would have to be a world record fee.
"I'd compare him to a [piece by Italian artist Amadeo] Modigliani," Raiola told Italian broadcaster Mediaset Premium. "He's worth 170 million [euros].
"He has a great future. He's an extraordinary kid and everyone loves him.
"He's already a little champion but he can become a great one."
Raiola’s analogy to Modigliani comes after he compared another of his client, former United midfielder Paul Pogba, to a Salvador Dali painting. The Juventus midfielder is one of the most sought-after players in Europe, with Manchester City rivalling United and Chelsea for his signature, as well as Spanish duo Real Madrid and Barcelona and French league champions PSG.
Should Pogba move on to PSG, he is unlikely to link up with Ibrahimovic. The Swedish striker is out of contract at the end of the season, and Donnarumma has talked up a move back to Milan once his current deal is done.
"His return to Milan last summer was very difficult because there was an agreement with PSG and Zlatan wanted to respect it," added Raiola.
"Now, he's out of contract, we will see what happens.
"A return to Italy is difficult because of the stage that Italian football is currently going through.
"There are few teams that would be able to allow themselves a player like him.
"Would I give the Milan fans reason to hope? Well, hope is always the last thing to die."
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