Donnarumma - top. Now for sure
The Italian national team performed superbly at Euro 2020. It's not just about the championship, it's about the team itself. In many matches, especially in the later stages of the tournament, the Italians played selflessly and to the limit. It was impossible not to empathize with Roberto Mancini's team.
How he performed
But who knows how far the Azzurra Squadra could have gone at the continental championship, if not for its guard Gianluigi Donnarumma. The man, who in Italy was considered the future heir of Buffon, is already fully replacing his namesake. And he's only 22 years old. Ahead of his whole life, including football. Donnarumma already has 33 matches in his account as the main goalkeeper of the Italian national team. For a long time, the football player was considered overvalued, especially against the background of the fact that he demanded a significant salary increase from Milan under a new contract. But at the European Championship, Gigi showed that he deserves the 12 million euros a year that PSG will pay him. At the European Championship, the young goalkeeper conceded to his own net only in the 4th match (against the Austrian national team). After that, the squadron ggbetcasino.org had a Belgian pass, and then 2 penalty shootouts in a row, in which Donnarumma worked brilliantly. In the series against Spain, Gigi repelled the blow of Alvaro Morata, which became fatal for the red fury. In the final match, the goalkeeper took punches from Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka. Squadra rejoiced. Italy became the first national team in history to win 2 consecutive penalty shootouts at the European Championship. Donnarumma was named the best player in the tournament. For the first time in history, this title was given to a goalkeeper. Gigi was not the top goalkeeper at Euro 2020 in terms of clean sheets, but he showed composure in many other moments for which he was recognized in UEFA.
Prospects
Last season was one of the best for a football player. It's not just the results of the team, but also in his personal performance. In the 2020/21 campaign, Donnarumma conceded an average of 1.03 goals per game. This is on par with Wojciech Szczesny and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and better than Manuel Neuer. In the 2018/19 season, Gigi conceded 0.86 goals per match. This was his best performance in his career, although the Rossoneri then took only 5th place in the standings of the national championship. Last season, the Italian was second in Serie A behind Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in terms of the number of shutouts (14/15).
Fabio Cannavaro believes Donnarumma will be the best goalkeeper in the world in the next 10 -15 years. Buffon even said that his compatriot could win the Golden Ball. Gigi Sr. probably exaggerated a little, but the guy has really huge potential. How he will be treated in Milan is another question. Of course, the Italian did not act in the best way in relation to his native club, leaving him with nothing. On the other hand, the Rossoneri themselves are to blame for allowing one of the potentially best goalkeepers in the world to leave for free. The red-blacks had to decide on contract or transfer issues a year ago and take a principled position in the negotiations. Donnarumma's transfer to PSG was a great success, especially for the Parisians. It is not always possible to get a European champion for free. How Gigi and Keylor Navas will get along in the same team is still a big question. But the competition for the first place in the Parisian club will be the highest. Donnarumma did not become Milan's Buffon, but his choice can also be understood, and it's not just about money. The young football player decided to leave his comfort zone and test himself in a completely different environment, where nothing is guaranteed to him (except for a salary, perhaps). Gigi was not afraid to challenge himself, and this is the first, and very important step on the path to greatness. Further, everything depends only on him.
