Donnarumma ‘hoped for Azzurri’

By Football Italia staff

Gigi Donnarumma admits ‘I hoped for an Italy call-up’ and reveals ‘I dream of wearing the Milan captain’s armband.’

The goalkeeper has been one of the revelations of the season in Serie A, making his debut aged 16 under Sinisa Mihajlovic.

He was overlooked by Antonio Conte for the Azzurri’s Euro 2016 squad, an omission which he admits disappointed him.

“Of course I hoped for a call-up to the national team,” Donnarumma told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I clung onto that dream until the end, but I’m happy to have made my debut with the Under-21s and to know that Luigi Di Biagio relies on me.

“My personal objective is always to continue to improve, Milan’s goal next year must be to get back into Europe and then we’ll see.

“Long-term future? I hope to still be at Milan, with the captain’s armband. It would be the culmination of a dream I’ve had since I was a child.

“Buffon’s heir? I don’t know about that. But I admit that his compliments are the ones that have pleased me the most.

“Berlusconi has complimented me a lot this year and has also given me some advice, especially regarding earrings and tattoos. He doesn’t want me to have them and indeed I don’t.

“Milan’s sale? I can’t imagine a Milan without Berlusconi. And I like the idea of a young, Italian Milan.”

The young goalkeeper also commented on Napoli’s season, as he is from a town close to the port city.

“Napoli is a great club and one of the best teams in our league,” he said.

“They did really well this season, but the defeat in Turin let the Bianconeri past and they continued until the end with a winning streak that nobody could oppose.”

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