Enzo Raiola has claimed that that AC Milan were not keen on keeping Gianluigi Donnarumma, and he also spoke about what kind of an executive Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be.
Donnarumma’s exit in the summer of 2021 left a bitter taste in the mouths of many as he departed the club where he came through to academy to join Paris Saint-Germain and he went on a free transfer, meaning Milan got nothing.
He returned to San Siro last season as the Rossoneri beat PSG 2-1 in the Champions League. He was jeered loudly when his name was read, insults and chants were aimed at him while fake money with his face on rained down from the stands.
The reasons for such a turbulent exit from Milan have long since been debated with both sides seemingly wanting to blame each other. One thing is for sure: with Mike Maignan, the Diavolo got a good replacement.
Enzo Raiola has taken on a leading role after the passing of his cousin Mino and he spoke to Calciomercato.com about a number of topics, with Donnarumma’s exit and Zlatan’s new life among them.
Is it true that as a child he could have gone to Inter?
“By Inter, by Juve… everywhere. Everyone wanted him. He was betrothed to another club, but he was waiting for the call from Milan: Bianchessi forced the operation, Galliani believed in him. So we closed it.”
Is it true that Juventus also looked for him in the following years?
“There have always been rumours and probably at some points he was a target, but they never made any concrete attempts.”
What were the reasons for the break-up with Milan?
“In that period we had moved from the Berlusconi era to a club that was struggling to carry out a project. Gigio had a career ahead of him, remaining in that context was not the right choice.
“If at that moment there had been the Milan of today with Champions League football, I think he would have stayed and we would have talked about another story. But it wasn’t the only reason that made us leave.
“We had the perception that the club didn’t want to keep Donnarumma, there wasn’t a great desire to close the renewal agreement.”
Will he return to Serie A in the future?
“Football is beautiful because it’s unpredictable, anything can happen. Today I think it’s tough, but never say never.”
You have a strong bond with Ibrahimovic…
“He has always been close to us, even during Mino’s illness. He told us that he will always be there for us. He also always told me that he didn’t want to get into discussions related to figures, numbers.
“He chose Mino as his agent to let him do everything, he says he has little patience, he’s right: he can’t sit and negotiate with the agents, his experience must be used for something else.”
How do you see him doing as a director?
“He is a very thoughtful person, and mistakes are often made when one improvises or is in a hurry to make certain choices. Zlatan has great experience and such a strong character that there is no pressure that can move him. He will do very well and He will be a great leader.”
The last people I’d believe is both him and his dead father, snakes in human skin
Dead cousin. At least read the article.
Football agents are evil, divisive scum – Simon Jordan, former owner, Crystal Palace FC.
I gotta say that Simon Jordan fella sounds like a great man.
Pshhhhhhhhhh… “milan didn’t seem interested in renewal”… GTFO. Because he would come out and say “We wanted a hefty commission”… Agents are all the same.
Glad he left. With him between the posts I’m not sure we’d win Scudetto. Weak character.
Fans can say what they want fact remains the summer he left, he was the top goalie in Europe
He won the Euros MVP, best player of the tournament. The wage demands were fair and in line with his market value. Add that he cost us no transfer fees, he was an academy product, his agency was within their rights to ask for a signing fee.
We signed Mike, we woukd have kept both for one year, let them split games then sold Gigi for a nice fee, but they refused to unlock the wage budget. Yet they paid Leao’s agents inherently by giving Lille 20 million euros, which we had no obligation to do, because he and his agent would have been sued by Lille for breaking their contract and making them have to incur that penalty regardless if he signed with us or another club.
We saw the same happen with Hakan, Kessie, Romagnoli. If history repeats itself, with the same people in our management showing the same behaviour, then we know who the true culprits are. It isn’t our men who gave their sweat and tears for our coloues. The ones who deserve to be called snakes still are on the same nonsense.
Maignan and Theo proved they were the best in their position here on lowball contracts, that didn’t reflect the level of their performances. Yet we still didn’t offer them a fair one, despite having our revenues double since their last contract signings.
The agents have been doing their jobs, based on supply and demand, our club makes up their delusional evaluations and constantly lost out on our own players and transfer targets. Those who helped our rivals increase the gap in quality at key positions we couldn’t afford to lose out on. They had their club repossessed by a fund, yet secured renewals for their stars at salaries higher than our top earners without FFP repercussions. There is a will, there is a way.
There is fire where there is smoke.
Wowww…
You have written some stupid statementswhichare not facts.
2years before Dollarumma contract expiry, Milan offered him many different contracts and maximum was 8m but he refused and try to negotiate until end of contract. 3months before his contract Milan search for new goalkeeper and just before the end of season Milan told to Dollarumma he can leave they have already agreed with Mike.
The last contract demands from Mino Raiola was 12m/year salary for 2years and 20m commission for agent without minimum sale obligation.
Even after winning Euro, salary received by Dollarumma at psg was 6m/year whereas Milan offered him 8m/year and club captain at 21y age.
12m salary at that time was not sustainable for Milan where he played 1good season among 5.
Every statement you have written about gigio is false and intention of gigio is not to stay which can be seen even todays statement from Enzo Raiola.
Anyway he has done well to leave at right time and we got Magic Mike
And the last statement by you to play Mike and Dollarumma, Mike already won ligue 1 with Lille than the other won nothing. Mike will not join any team to play as second goalkeeper.
Played 1 good season out of 5? On what planet?
What you are saying is not factual by a long shot.
Gigi nets 10 million euros a year, not six. Gross makes 18 million euros. That is documented and verified.
What makes you think Mike wouldn’t split the net with Gigi? Donnaruma went to PSG despite Navas being there. Any quality player won’t fear competition. Winning Ligue 1 is not the same as winning Serie A. It hasn’t been a major tournament since the 90s.
Making stuff up to meet your narrative, never forget when we qualified for the cl and Maldini went directly to dollarunner to ask him about his renewal because the agents were being greedy and dolla said “talk to my agent” and walked away from Maldini. Those are Maldini’s own words on the matter not your made up bs, I know who im listening to concerning this. We then spent less on Maignan than we would have on commission’s for a vastly superior goalkeeper who has had more than 1 good season like you try to make up. And also dollarunner did get 6m in his 1st season with psg his wage went up annually to his current level. These are facts.
♌️Jimmy… leo will stay at milan he loves milan he must improve on some aspect of the game,he has proved to be a good player a gentleman he is very discipline so with other player he will play a good session with Fonseca he will be guided now milan need a good strikers hope that zerkee comes a good defensive midfielder a centre back okafor must get more playing time so as cheekuzku milan will be scudetto contenders ..forza milan..milan forever..
Tldr;
He wanted insane amounts of money that he wasn’t worth, and the club let him go and signed a better keeper who actually knows how to use his feet
not sure who snake here, but even after 3 year, some people still talk about it, always same people-agent, player or fan(which not really decision maker)..not the management which decided not to renew..for me, management already move on from day 1, & yet they still talked until today. Sound like a bit regret which mean they are the problem