World Soccer - UK (2021-10)

GianluigiDonnarumma

theemotionaltribute he penned

onInstagram:“DearMisterErnesto.

Iftoday,I’vefulfilledmydreamtoplay

inSerieAandtotread theturfat the

SanSiro,I oweitaboveall to you.

I learntsomuchfromyou andnot

onlyhow to actonthepitch.You

spentyourwholelifeteachinglittle

playerslike me theloveofthissport.”

Donnarumma,whorecently

sealeda Bosmanfreetransferto

ParisSaint-Germainfollowingsix

years as astarterwithMilan,isa 1 00

percentfootballnatural.Withinthe

Donnarummafamilyunitthegame

wasa religion,itsinfluence all-

pervasive andinescapable.Hisfather

Alfonso,a carpenterbytrade,was

soccer-mad,instillinghisloveofthe

Milan clubtoboth hissons.Hisuncle

Enrico,oncea keeperwithlocalclub

JuveStabia,alsoplayedakeyrolein

theindoctrinationprocess,takinghis

nephewto ClubNapoliatthe ageof

justfourandprofferingallmanner

oftricksofthetrade.

Brothers...Gigioand

Antonio Donnarumma

JUL 3 0, 2015

Justa monthafterturning

professional,Donnarummaplays

hisfirstgameforMilan,comingoffthe

bench in an InternationalChampions

Cupfriendlymatchagainst Real Madrid

inChina.Thegameisdecidedby

penalties,withDonnarumma

oneof twoplayerstomiss.

Arch-rivals...Inter

strikerEderclashes

withDonnarumma

during thekeeper’s

firstMilan derby

OCT 25 , 2 015

Makes his

competitivedebut

ina 2-1SerieAwin

v Sassuolo,becoming

thesecond-youngest

goalkeepertostart

inItalianfootball

history.

JAN 3 1, 2016

Appearsinhis

firstDerbydella

Madonnina, against

Milan’sarch-rivals

Internazionale,

helpinghisside

toa comfortable

3–0victory.

MAR 24 , 2 016

Makes hisItalyU2 1

debutina 4–1win

overtheRepublicof

Ireland,becoming

theyoungestplayer

evertoplay forthe

teamat 17 years

and 2 8 days.

Timeline

Serie Astage;the Revelation of the
Yearaward he picked up in 2 01 6;
his debutfor theItaly Under 21 s
atthe ageofjust 17 ; thefirst of
his 33 caps fortheAzzurri.
UnderstandablyGigio was
heartbroken on hearingthe sad
newsofFerraro’s death. Hence