Saturday, August 27, 2016

Donnarumma, 17, becomes youngest player in more than a century to be called up by Italy

AC Milan's 17-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has received his first call up to Italy's squad. He is the youngest player to be called up by Italy since Rodolfo Gavinelli in 1911.

New Azzurri coach Gian Piero Ventura also gave Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli, Torino forward Andrea Belotti and Genoa striker Leonardo Pavoletti their first call ups.

Italy hosts France in a friendly in Bari on Thursday, then visits Israel four days later to open World Cup qualifying.

Ventura replaced Antonio Conte, who left for Chelsea after guiding Italy to the quarterfinals of the European Championship.

A possible heir to longtime Italy starter Gianluigi Buffon, Donnarumma made his Serie A debut last season at the age of 16 years, 8 months - becoming the youngest goalkeeper to start a match in the top division.

Last weekend, Donnarumma saved a penalty to preserve a Milan win.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Federico Marchetti (Lazio)

Defenders: Luca Antonelli (Milan), Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus)

Midfielders: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain) 

Strikers: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Graziano Pellè (Shandong Luneng).




from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2c3NrSV
via IFTTT

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