Goalkeeper Donnarumma decides to leave AC Milan

Goalkeeping sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma has taken his final call on snubbing the deal offered to him by AC Milan to extend his contract, the seven-time European football champions have announced.

The 18-year-old's current contract runs out in 12 months but he has decided to move elsewhere after not accepting the reported five million euros ($5.58 million) per season contract offered by AC Milan, the club announced on Thursday.

"Mino Raiola (the player's agent) has informed me of Donnarumma's decision not to renew his contract with AC Milan," AC Milan CEO Marco Fassone said in a statement.

"It's a final decision taken by the player. I remember that 10 days ago we made an important offer to the player -- even more important that what the newspapers have written. The player made his technical, economical and personal considerations and has decided to reject it."

Donnarumma made his first team debut for Milan at an age of only 16 and has been touted as the long term successor of Gianluigi Buffon and was termed as the "Maradona of goalkeepers" by his agent Raiola after his breakthrough season.

He was the youngest goalkeeper to play for Italy at the age of just 17 years and 189 days.

"We were taken by surprise, as we had confidently hoped Donnarumma would be the goalkeeper taking Milan into the future that we could build the team around," Fassone said.

"We trust that we can do our best. Naturally, the decision leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, but now we have to go forward and Milan go forward," he added.

There are various clubs who are in contention to sign the youngster, with Manchester United seemingly the front-runners especially when David De Gea looks set to leave this summer.

The other interested clubs include European champions Real Madrid, runners-up Juventus and French heavyweighhts Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

--IANS

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