Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to become the youngest starting goalkeeper in Italian National Team history at age 18. Gian Piero Ventura has decided to go with the young superstar against a Netherlands side that has recently fired their manager Danny Blind.
Donnarumma has kept 10 clean sheets this season for AC Milan and has already made over 60 appearances for the Rossoneri. At the age of 16 he was one of the youngest players ever to debut in Serie A and he is set to continue that trend for the Azzurri.
This debut start comes after his namesake Gianluigi Buffon made his 1,000th career appearance in the sport.
Buffon and other players have been on record saying that the youngster is one of the most talented players they have ever been around. He has fantastic size at 6’5 and outstanding confidence for a kid his age. He isn’t afraid to yell at his defenders to tell them where they should be and isn’t afraid of the big moment either.
Coming off fantastic games against Juventus virtually every time they face this season, including beating out Buffon in a penalty shootout for the SuperCoppa earlier this season.
Not only is this appearance valuable but also it might just be the unofficial passing of the torch for the two keepers. Buffon is most likely to retire from the Azzurri after the World Cup in Russia next summer.
The transition from one San Gigi is something that every Azzurri and Soccer should be giddy about. The end of an incredible era leads to a start of a new one and it starts tomorrow afternoon at 2:45 in Amsterdam, Holland.