After the end of the January window, Milan will resume negotiating with super-agent Mino Raiola about Gianluigi Donnaruma’s extension, as the goalkeeper is on an expiring contract. While there is optimism the deal will eventually get done, there are some significant hurdles to clear before reaching agreement, Corriere della Sera reported today.
The two sides are pretty far apart on every aspect: the club has offered around €7M plus bonuses, while the representative is asking for a €10M salary and would like to introduce a modest release clause, at €30M. The management would rather avoid the clause or at least set it much higher. Moreover, the front office proposed a four-year deal, while the entourage of the player prefers a shorter contract to revisit it again in the short-term.
Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out that both Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu are already technically free to sign with other teams ahead of next season, but neither will do it because they intend to stay at Milan. Also Tuttosport indicated that the young prodigy has never seriously considered leaving despite the fact that the negotiation to prolong his contract has been laborious.
Our view
Milan are playing with fire by letting two of their cornerstones get this close to the end of their contracts without securing an extension, but they have not been burnt so far and all indications are that they are going to be successful. These instances provide further evidence of the great atmosphere within the club as certainly there is no shortage of wealthy suitors for the two players.