Gennaro Gattuso must seriously consider Gianluigi Donnarumma’s AC Milan place

Date: 28th August 2018 at 10:02am
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Fifty-two minutes was all it took for the positivity surrounding AC Milan’s start to the Serie A season to come crashing down around them against Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli on Saturday night.

With a clear directive from coach Gennaro Gattuso to build from the back, the Rossoneri had ridden their luck at times long before that, though, with a general nervousness seemingly stemming from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 19-year-old effectively started the move that led to Piotr Zielinski’s first goal, before his initial hesitancy at a corner meant his positioning was, not for the first time of late, questionable when the Pole fired home a second and equaliser.

It was a performance that evoked memories of last season, that ultimately ended on a warm Rome evening last May when avoidable errors gifted Juventus two goals in the space of three minutes and a potential Coppa Italia medal.

The last 18 months has seen a fall from grace of the Italian international in the eyes of many Milanisti and coincided with a relative downturn in performances, and first-team future must now be in doubt.

Despite much-publicised issues with the club last term – ending with Donnarumma eventually signing a new four-year deal after indicating a desire to run down his contract – the Rossoneri were short a top-level alternative. Brother Antonio, arguably, even more unpopular with the Milan faithful.

The signing of ex-Napoli custodian Pepe Reina rectified that problem and someone who possess the technical ability to undertake Gattuso’s passing ideal.

Unwavering support for Donnarumma, though, appears to negate any potential benefit, Gattuso insisting that the duo will split league and cup commitments, but the Spaniard is largely employed as a mentor.

“If Donnarumma models himself on Reina, he can become the number one in the world,” said Gattuso. “He has had incredible fortune, with an incredible champion playing with him.”

“For his age, he’s the best goalkeeper in the world,” Gattuso had already proclaimed in December 2017 after his Milan future was questioned again.

“He is a goalkeeper with extraordinary physical and mental qualities,” praised none other than legend Gianluigi Buffon.

Natural ability already brings much praise, Milan constantly stroking Donnarumma’s ego can be as negative as it is positive, creating a sense of invincibility but also breeding complacency.

Even after the distasteful scenes that surrounded his summer contract tussle in 2017, sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli claimed: “it’s not all Gigio’s fault and we must support and protect him.”

At some point, though, for his sake and Milan’s, he must be judged as a 100-plus appearance senior player, even if the naivety with which he has allowed contract negotiations to be undertaken in can be excused by age.

If the Rossoneri want Donnarumma to learn, then maybe they should first teach him the lesson that nobody is untouchable and everyone should be accountable for their performances.

 

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