The Fate Of Donnarumma — Will He Stay or Will He Go?

Donnarumma has delighted for Milan since making his debut, but will he shape his career at Milan or will he leave? Image: The Sun

Donnarumma has arguably been Milan’s best player this season, and he just might have the most potential out of any player in the world. Yes, there’s plenty of other candidates — Alli, Mbappe-Lottin, Renato Sanches — but Donnarumma is something special. At 18 years of age, he’s solidified his position as one of the best keepers in the world, earning himself a spot in the European Team of the Season according to WhoScored.

Now that he’s showcased his superstar potential, will he stay with the Rossoneri, or will he look for bigger clubs and bigger wages?

One Major Problem: Mino Raiola

The main obstacle preventing Donnarumma from renewing with Milan is his agent, Mino Raiola. Raiola is known for being quite greedy with his players, representing Ibrahimovic and Pogba among others. Raiola will not renew without a hefty sum for both his client and himself, and Milan seem to be willing to pay, but the Italian doesn’t seem to be satisfied.

With the many clubs after the youngster such as Manchester City and Real Madrid, Raiola seems keen on acquiring himself a percentage of a future transfer fee. Based on the fact that this fee could go up to the tens of millions of euros, Raiola seems set for a nice payday, similar to the €49 million he received from Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United just last season. If Donnarumma were to renew with Milan, the Rossoneri would certainly be reluctant to let him go, perhaps preferring to establish the keeper as a club legend, similar to Maldini.

Raiola is not loved by many, but he is good at what he does, and this will cause Milan some problems. Despite the €5 million a year supposedly offered to the youngster, Raiola seems reluctant to accept, and Mirabelli and Fassone have already asked Donnarumma to hurry with his decision — it’s either Milan or Raiola. Which one will he choose?

Whatever happens, Raiola will no doubt be looking to profit from it, and this could end up being the dealbreaker when it comes to Donnarumma’s renewal.

Is He Worth It?

Sure, as I said before, Donnarumma might very well be the most promising youngster in the world, but is the keeper worth it? If Milan were to lose out on the Italian, they would save themselves millions in wages, not to mention the possible €60 million transfer fee they would get from his sale. From this, they could rebuild with a veteran goalkeeper and make some incredibly important acquisitions for the rest of the side, possibly bringing in both Morata and Belotti or reinforcing their midfield with another top player. After all, a goalkeeper is only so important.

But again, Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and it would be hard, if not impossible to find a replacement. Plizzari looks to have potential, but he has yet to prove himself in the top leagues, and it’s very unlikely that he would be able to match the raw talent that Donnarumma has.

In giving up their crown jewel, the player who they were supposed to rebuild from, perhaps the best goalkeeper in all of Europe, they gain around €90 million in reduced expenses and a massive transfer fee. Is it worth it? I don’t know, but after all, it’s not up to them to decide whether the keeper stays.

It’s Donnarumma’s call now, and he has to make a choice that will define his career. He’s showcased maturity on the pitch, and he’ll have to do the same now. And he can’t allow himself to be swayed by his agent or by the fans. Only he knows what’s best for himself, whether he wants to leave for bigger and better clubs or stay as the centerpiece in Milan’s rise to the top. For Milan fans all over the world, let’s hope it’s the latter.