Arrigo Sacchi feels that Gianluigi Donnarumma should have stayed at Milan because it’s ‘the ideal place to grow’, rather than joining Paris Saint-Germain for the money.
The 23-year-old Italian goalkeeper has been the subject of much media and fan criticism in recent days following his calamitous error in PSG’s Champions League collapse against Real Madrid earlier this week. The former Rossoneri man was caught out with the ball at his feet by Karim Benzema, gifting Los Blancos their equalising goal in the match.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Sacchi discussed Donnarumma’s decision to leave Milan and why that was a mistake.
“He made a mistake by choosing money. I also told his father and mother last summer here in Milano Marittima. He should have stayed at Milan not so much out of gratitude, but because it was the ideal place to grow.
“You never leave places where you feel comfortable. But he remains a great champion, I’ve known him since he was little more than a child, in the youth national team. He will rise again.”
It has not been a simple season for Donnarumma, who signed a five-year deal with PSG last summer after his contract expired with Milan. He has only made 11 Ligue 1 appearances, being forced to share his starting spot with Keylor Navas.
The 23-year-old Italian shot stopper has conceded 14 goals and kept eight clean sheets in his 18 appearances across all competitions this season.
🗣 #Sacchi svela un retroscena su #Donnarumma #SempreMilan #Milan https://t.co/gPPQBrRDCH
— SempreMilanIT (@SempreMilanit) March 12, 2022
More like he made a mistake by being too greedy and accepting to be Raiola’s puppet, as he didn’t end up with that much more money anyway. Milan were offering more or less the same as PSG, but Raiola wanted to squeeze until the last drop by putting Milan in a corner like the last time and Maldini wasn’t having it. He called Raiola’s bluff by suddenly Maignan. Raiola then had to look around and find Dollarumma a new club. Now he should enjoy the bench and the scolding along with his paycheck. That plus he can’t ever set foot in Milan and be at peace. HIS choice.
Well said and very honest from Sacchi.
Greed. Hopefully he learned his lesson at this young age. And can revive himself.
Huge mistake to leave Milan.
My name says it all about my liking for Dollarumma but Sacchi is kind of annoying at this point. He always seems to have a holier than thou attitude about every subject.
You hear everyone say you shouldn’t be in your comfort zone and you have to get out of it to improve (that’s what people criticised Messi about that he always played comfortably in Barcelona and praised CR for that he moved around proved himself in different leagues).
So which one is it? To move or not to move? Tell us mr Sacchi. (with all VERY due respect)
Milan at least being kicked out from the UCL anyway
PSG slightly better in term of achievement but yes, i think he still made a mistake by joining PSG not the other club
I honestly hope this humbles him. I really think he didn’t realise how protected he was at Milan. Yeah, he had criticism, but nowhere near as much and now more is going to be expected of him. Sacchi is right. This was the ideal place for him to grow. We’re a young side that’s grown a lot and still has a lot of growing to do. Gigio honestly seemed to think (whether that was his own ego or Raiola) that he would walk into any top club and be a started. At the end of the day, he’s still pretty young and he will likely recover and improve with age but I honestly feel like being at PSG is a hindrance. But he’s probably laughing all the way to the bank. Doing half the work and getting more money for it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up at Juventus in a few years.
@Gianluigi
Couldn’t agree more with all of that. He’s always been Juve bound.
@dollarumma, Sacchi has always been annoying not just now!!! Just remember back to USA 94 and some of the bad decisions he made. Time for this old fart to move on and so do all of the AC Milan fans. Gigi has gone, chapter closed on his time at AC, the club and fans need to look forward not back.