Roma boss Mourinho 'phoned Donnarumma to discuss his future'
Roma boss Jose Mourinho ‘phoned Gianluigi Donnarumma to discuss his future’ as race hots up to sign AC Milan goalkeeper… but the ‘Special One’s interest was rebuffed with free agent favouring Juventus move’
- Talented goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is available on a free this summer
- Donnarumma will leave AC Milan when his contract expires later this month
- Jose Mourinho is claimed to have phoned Donnarumma to discuss his future
- But Roma boss Mourinho was knocked back with Juventus now the favourites
Roma boss Jose Mourinho reportedly phoned Gianluigi Donnarumma to discuss his future as the race hots up to sign the highly-rated goalkeeper – but the ‘Special One’ was knocked back with Juventus the favourites.
Donnarumma is available on a free transfer this summer after he allowed his deal at AC Milan to run down and a number of elite clubs have been touted to snap him up when the window opens.
Among them after Serie A rivals Juventus and Roma, but it is the former who are in the driving seat with Donnarumma keen to join them, as claimed by La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy.
Jose Mourinho reportedly phoned AC Milan stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma about his future
Roma are on the hunt for a new stopper for the next campaign with both Pau Lopez and Antonio Mirante failing to impress, and new boss Mourinho is said to have personally contacted Donnarumma.
His call failed, however, with the young keeper believed to have told him that his preference is Juventus.
Milan were keen to tie Donnarumma, 22, down to an extension, but discussions between both parties ultimately collapsed.
Mourinho takes charge of Roma from this summer and is actively on the hunt for a goalkeeper
Having arrived in 2013, the Italy international made his first-team debut in 2015, aged just 16, and went on to make 251 appearances for them across all competitions.
Previous reports claimed that Milan handed Donnarumma an ultimatum over the new deal, although his agent Mino Raiola is said to have demanded terms for the player that were beyond the club’s reach.
But regardless of his cost, Donnarumma is a man in demand. His next move remains unclear, but Juventus, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been tipped to swoop for him in the past.
In recent days, Barcelona also look to have emerged as a potential option. Mundo Deportivo have reported there is concrete interest in him at the Nou Camp.
Donnarumma will leave Milan as a free agent after letting his deal run down later this month
The outlet added that the club are keen to pounce on Donnarumma because they will not have to splash out on a transfer fee, although recruiting a new goalkeeper is not a top priority for them.
Any concerns held around the fitness of first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has suffered from knee issues over the last three seasons, may also help tempt Barcelona into the switch.
Donnarumma joining Juventus ahead of the rest would prove to be a divisive move in certain quarters, though. He endured a factitious relationship with parts of the Milan fanbase this season over his reluctance to agree to fresh terms.
With tensions coming to an ugly head, Donnarumma was reportedly even confronted at the Milan training ground by ultras, who were irked by the speculation that one of their star names was set to move to Juventus.
A number of elite clubs have been linked with moves for Donnarumma as the chase hots up
The mood among the San Siro hierarchy appears to be a little different, with club director Paolo Maldini insisting he wishes Donnarumma ‘all the best’.
‘Gigio was a leader and often the captain,’ all-time great Maldini said. ‘People sometimes don’t realise what it means to be a professional, it means you must be ready to change club.
‘It’s difficult to accept, I realise, but it’s also increasingly difficult to see a career in one team. We must respect those who gave so much to Milan and remember Donnarumma did not lack respect for us.
‘It can happen that at times you have to take different paths. I can only wish him the best.’
Milan director Paolo Maldini confirmed Donnarumma will leave soon after an eight-year stint
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