THE BROTHER-IN-LAW OF AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has claimed he received death threats after defending the player and criticising Milan fans on Instagram.
18-year-old Donnarumma is widely regarded as one of European football’s hottest prospects, and despite growing up a Milan fan, it was announced last week by his agent Mino Raiola that he would not be extending his contract with the Rossoneri beyond its expiry next year.
The teen prodigy was subsequently linked with a move away this summer — with Milan understandably unwilling to watch him depart on a free in 12 months time — and was shamed by fans and former players when inevitably linked with moves to Real Madrid and Juventus.
His brother-in-law, Carmine Paoletti, labelled Milan “a club of clowns” on Instagram, saying “those who criticise you do not know you,” and adding a hashtag which called for justice for the young Italian international.
Paoletti revealed to Italian website Il Mattino that Donnarumma phoned him soon afterwards, saying: “What have you written? I support Milan, do not attack my club.”
Paoletti, a pastry chef, promptly deleted the post, but it was too late. He’s now the talk of Italy, and has received death threats to his business.
“I never thought that my words could have as much weight,” he told Il Mattino. “It was an instinctive reaction when I saw the harsh attacking of my brother, whom I know since he was 8 years old. I attended his matches as a child, I was next to him when he cried with joy realising the dream of playing in Serie A for the club closest to his heart, and now I see him cry and feel bad.
“I did not think even for a moment to put me against a club that has made football history. Although I am fan of Napoli I have great respect for the Rossoneri, but I’m a human being. Besides, I’m not a public figure, I did not think of all this media coverage. Now there’s even death threats in the business that my family has been running for four generations.”
Paoletti added that Milan’s hastiness in attempting to secure Donnarumma’s services in the long term was to blame for the shot-stopper’s hesitancy, but denied that Donnarumma had ever stated that he wished to leave his boyhood club.
The truth is that Gigio has never said he wanted to leave Milan. He simply asked for time before deciding his future as he wanted to concentrate on the national team. It was Milan to give him an ultimatum: he wanted a decision immediately.
“From there the media reaction started, but it was something very forced. That’s why I had that outburst. Gigio will not go away. I know for a fact that he never even asked Raiola if there were other clubs interested in him, he only ever saw Milan in his future.”
Reports in Italy suggest the issue between Donnarumma and Milan is far from insolvable. The release clause in a new contract is said to be one bone of contention, with Milan wanting it to be north of €100 million, and either the player or his agent Raiola, or a combination of the two, battling for a cheaper price tag were a ‘larger’ club to come knocking.
Donnarumma was in action for Italy U21s during their 3-1 defeat to the Czech Republic at the Uefa U21 European Championship earlier today.
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