Man City Eyeing Milan's 'Other Donnarumma' But Are Knocked Back With Opening Offer
Manchester City are reportedly keen on 16-year-old Milan goalkeeper Alessandro Plizzari, a player often described as the 'other Donnarumma', but are believed to have been knocked back in their first attempt to prise the teenager away from the San Siro.
Milan fans witnessed Gianluigi Donnarumma'a meteoric rise to first-team stardom last season and Plizzari is just a year younger and billed as equally talented.
Unsurprisingly, he has admirers and suitors and, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan have rejected a sizeable opening €2m offer from Pep Guardiola's City.
Despite his tender years, more tender than even 17-year-old Donnarumma, Plizzari is already part of the first-team squad at Milan and is currently the third choice goalkeeper behind Donnarumma and one-cap Brazilian stopper Gabriel.
City will need a new first choice goalkeeper in the coming years and Plizzari could offer the perfect solution given the time-frames at play.
Joe Hart is set to cut all ties to the club this summer after spending the campaign on loan with Torino in Italy, while Claudio Bravo will turn 34 years of age in April and is unlikely to be around for more than a few seasons - his contract expires in 2020 when Plizzari will be 20.
Although 20 is still very young for a goalkeeper, David de Gea was similarly aged when he was installed as number one at cross-town rivals Manchester United in 2011 and City would be set up between the sticks for more than a decade should they land Plizzari.
One thing that could aid City, or indeed any interested party, is the fact that Plizzari has Donnarumma firmly in front of him as far as making the grade at Milan is concerned.
Considering Donnarumma is very much seen as Italy's next Gianluigi Buffon - they even share a first name - it may be that Plizzari has to look for other opportunities to realise his potential.
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