TMW exclusive
Marco Amelia, third goalkeeper for Italy, World Champion in 2006, has made 9 appearances for the national team
Marco Amelia, how do you judge Donnarumma’s first performance as captain of the national team in such an important competition?
“He was decisive for the result, he managed all the situations of the match well. And then in the end he was decisive: he came out with perfect timing on Manaj, closing the mirror on him.”
Three years ago he was awarded best player of the tournament. Is Donnarumma still the best goalkeeper in Europe?
“Gigio He is definitely one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.”
Has he grown in these three years? Could he need a different experience to take a further step of growth?
“I hope he can return to Italy, it would be very nice to see him again in the Milan shirt. The experience at PSG certainly helped him to significantly increase his European experience, he was able to play many Champions League matches.”
If you had to compare him to a goalkeeper from the past, who comes to mind?
“It’s difficult to compare goalkeepers from the past with current ones. The truth is that in the future he will be a reference model and many will be compared to him.”
Do you still have some fundamentals that you need to improve on?
“Donnarumma is a complete goalkeeper, today it is difficult to think of fundamentals in which he needs to improve”
Buffon said of him: ‘At the moment he is the strongest in the world’
“If Buffon said it, there is nothing else to add! We who have played at high levels can only praise him for what he is doing, but then we know well that this sport allows those who have never worn gloves or boots to criticize”.