2017/18 Summer Transfer Rumors Mk. I

rincon wrote:Looks like Salah to Liverpool is happening

Agent Mino Raiola broke his silence on Gianluigi Donnarumma, claiming Milan “bullied” the 18-year-old and “he and his family were threatened.”

Raiola organised what was originally meant to be a Press conference in Montecarlo this evening, but turned into a meeting with Sky Sport Italia, Mediaset Premium and Rai Sport in his kitchen – with the footage locked down until midnight Italian time.

Milan have decided to give their reply to these comments tomorrow via CEO Marco Fassone.

“The situation had become too violent and hostile, so there was no way out,” Raiola declared.

“We took a decision that we didn’t want to take. It was nothing to do with money. We were threatened. Donnarumma’s family was threatened, both with not playing anymore and threatened with death. You can’t keep a player by threatening him.

“Now there is a genuine risk he could miss a year. His quality makes that improbable, but this is already on the verge of mobbing.

“We never even got to talk about money or release clauses, because we were not allowed to get that far, nor to think of what was best for Gigio. You talk about that when negotiations are 95 per cent there.

“He was ready to sign a new contract, there were no doubts in his mind. They forced us to abandon the negotiations because of the environment created around him.

“I take the responsibility. They forced us. It was Milan that lost Donnarumma. He said to me, honestly Mino, I don’t feel it is right to carry on negotiations when these people are insulting and threatening me and my family.

“For example, there was a banner in front of the club headquarters. A club should protect its players and remove the banner. A club should support a player and encourage his career, not threaten him with having to be left in the stands.”

Raiola also hit back at reports he is pushing the goalkeeper towards Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Juventus.

“I have not spoken to any big club. We do not have any agreement with any other team. He already had offers from Juventus, Real Madrid and big clubs when he was 14 years old, so if he wanted to go, he would’ve done earlier. I can assure you there will be no rapid transfer.

“I had already guaranteed we would not leave on a free transfer, so there was no rush to get the contract signed. I wanted a more gradual approach. We were forced into making decisions we were not prepared to make, so we refused.

“I do not get along with (director of sport Massimiliano) Mirabelli at all. We are two completely different wavelengths. What he does is close to mobbing, if it isn't already. I won't put up with that behaviour, nor will I allow him to get away with it.

"I have no problem with Fassone and do not intend to wage war with Milan, but in these circumstances, I don't see how the situation can be resolved. They told us to make a decision by June 13, so we did."

On Thursday, the Rossoneri were informed by Raiola that Donnarumma would not be signing a new contract, so his current deal is due to expire in June 2018.

It has been said this is not an economic issue, because Milan had offered the 18-year-old wages worth €5m per year, including bonuses.

This Raiola interview was given before tonight’s events, when Milan fans threw fake dollar bills at Donnarumma during Italy’s Under-21 European Championship match against Denmark and held up insulting banners.

The suggestion of 'mobbing' could be very relevant, as it can be used to terminate a contract or take legal action against a club.

There are other examples of his family being ‘threatened’ by angry supporters, as Donnarumma’s brother-in-law runs a cake shop and over the last few days it has received multiple one-star reviews on restaurant sites, claiming there were anything from worms to cockroaches in the food.

Milan CEO Marco Fassone insists they would “welcome Gianluigi Donnarumma back with open arms” and the goalkeeper was “never threatened.”

The total breakdown in the relationship between Donnarumma and club occurred on Thursday evening, when agent Mino Raiola informed them there would be no contract extension.

Today Raiola gave his version of events, including threats, mobbing and the club forcing them into this decision.

“We are pained at these extremes that football seems to generate,” Fassone told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

“We are also disappointed if his decision, or that of his agent, provoked such reactions. As a club, I really don’t know what more we could’ve done to give Gigio and his family the desire and pleasure to remain. We tried to transmit that to him every time we spoke.

“If he were to reconsider, not only would he be welcomed back with open arms by Milan the club, but in the end I think also by the Milan fans. Moods can change so quickly.”

Raiola also claims the Rossoneri directors threatened to leave Donnarumma in the stands for a year if he didn’t sign a new deal.

“There were no threats. Our position is clear: Donnarumma is not for sale, and Vincenzo Montella will decide on a weekly basis. As far as I am concerned, he can play every game. However, we cannot run any risks, so we need to seek out another goalkeeper.

“We can’t rely on someone who is coming to the end of his contract, who is perhaps thinking of Real Madrid, especially in such a delicate role as goalkeeper. I have to be sure we’ve got a focused shot-stopper who is in ideal physical and psychological condition.

“For example, if San Siro were to protest during a game, that could take something away from his concentration. From what Raiola says, the lad seems very restless.”

This interview, and Raiola’s, were given before this evening’s events, when Italy’s game with Denmark in the European Under-21 Championship was interrupted by Milan fans throwing fake dollar bills at the goalkeeper.

“Nobody ever doubted he had the right to make this decision. It’s perfectly within the rules. But it’s one thing to be legitimate, another to work within the ethics of business.

“The bitterness here has to do with the unpleasant way the situation was handled. It could’ve been done without damaging the club, but by leaving like this, they have cost Milan €100m.

“If Donnarumma is worth this much at the age of 18, it’s also because the club invested in him, had courage to launch him into the first team.

“All he had to do was say he didn’t want to remain and we’d have renewed with a reasonable release clause. Then if the most important club in the world had turned up, even this summer, they could pay Milan that sum.

“This way what Real Madrid doesn’t pay me will end up in the pockets of his agent. I at least would’ve reinvested that sum into Italian football.

“Every time we spoke, face to face or on the phone, Gigio assured us he wanted to stay. It was that way until two days before the last meeting with Raiola.

“The agent, on the other hand, always said he was not prepared to negotiate on our timescale. So there were two different versions.”

Raiola claimed Milan were rushing the situation too much, so could the Rossoneri not have waited a little longer?

“No, because Gigio’s contract is running down and I needed time to act on the market. Pre-season training starts on July 3, so two weeks is the absolute minimum.

“If he’d told me in mid-August that he didn’t want to renew, what would I have done? It’s part of the normal planning of a good director. Besides, they had two months to think about it.”

Raiola repeatedly stated he has no problem with Fassone, but accused director of sport Massimiliano Mirabelli of “mobbing” Donnarumma.

“There is no Mirabelli or Fassone, just a single club, Milan. Every move, every proposal, every phone call was agreed. Nobody should try to cause friction between us.”

Breaking | AS Roma have agreed a 5-year contract with Jean-Michaël Seri, club will make 3rd offer worth €35m to Nice, according to RMC.

— Get French Football (@GFFN) June 19, 2017

Donnarumma soon best in the deserves only respect for all he's done until now #forzaGigi

— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) June 19, 2017

Why didn't he renew when Galliani was still running things at the club?

"Because Milan had been trying to sell the club for two years with three different buyers. Galliani tried to talk to me but I said no and he respected me for that. I had to wait because I didn't know what was happening with the sale of the club and I had to protect the player."

ES wrote:Threatened

Wish i could meet the little turd IRL, him and his agent, hopefully with Tom and Gattuso on my side

Robespierre wrote:Am I the only one that thinks Donnarumma will extend his contract at the end  ?