Milan keeper Gigio Donnarumma took time to take an interview, on Tuesday, with famous Twitch streamer Justees. Donnarumma answered questions regarding his life, football, his career aspirations, and more. These are his words to the Twitch community:
What influenced you the most growing up?
"My uncle who played football was a goalkeeper. He influenced me, I grew up with his influence, it was he who gave me this desire to be a goalkeeper. I grew up with the dream of becoming the best, we hope to become one day,”.
Biggest lesson learned from a coach?
“All the coaches I've had have taught me something, from when I was very young and on my first team. In addition to the field, what they taught me the most is life outside, the greatest teaching is that of work, of getting to the field first, of being pure,".
Is there an advantage of playing at home?
“Definitely. The fans help you in times of difficulty, you also need to be able to bear criticism even when things are not going well. Surely they give you something more, unfortunately they haven't been there lately but when they are they give you a lot. In moments of difficulty they can give you that adrenaline to push and to bring home the result. In this period they are not there and we are waiting for them,”.
The best memory you have as a child?
“Definitely when I started playing, my first training. My uncle who unfortunately is no longer here came to pick me up at home, there was my brother who was going to train and I went too. My brother did the exercises and I threw myself too, from that day it all started,”.
The best game you have watched in your life?
"The 2006 World Cup, the final,”.
Match during the day or at night?
"Night"
Would you like to be the fastest or most accurate in the world?
"The most accurate"
Car or motorcycle?
"Car"
Do you have a ritual before matches?
“I have one that I can't say, I don't know if it's ever seen on the pitch, but before the game I touch the goalposts and the crossbar and make the sign of the cross. The other is personal,".
Was there a moment when you realized you could become a professional footballer?
“When I first left for Milan. I had a hard time thinking of having to leave home, when I left and saw my parents feel bad I thought that it would all begin there, that I would become a Serie A goalkeeper,".
Did you have a plan B in life?
"Maybe a carpenter like my father. I didn't have a plan B, sometimes I went to help him but I only had a plan A,”.
Do you like other sports besides football?
"I like tennis. I practiced it a few times and I loved it,".
Do you like watching movies or listening to music?
“I leave the field, I go home, I play video games. I really enjoy playing with my friends. I'm a video game type rather than a TV series type,”.
Your debut with the Italian national team, how did it feel?
"I didn't expect it, I was there and Buffon was there. The day before the coach told me that we would each have our time, I was on the moon. I can't tell you when I entered. Then when I enter the field I forget everything. But afterwards it was an incredible emotion. Fall asleep the day before ... You have to let pressure and emotion out. Even when you make a mistake in the game you have to be good at detaching immediately otherwise you won't get out of it anymore,”.
Do you have a player who has meant a great deal to you? Like a mentor? And do you see yourself as a mentor?
“I had Abbiati in my first period at Milan, he was very important. He helped me grow, it made me feel important and calm when I had the opportunity to play in Serie A. He was fundamental in my path. Be a mentor in the future? I haven't thought about it yet, I'm 22 (laughs),”.
Do you have friends that are opponents?
"I am very close to Insigne, but let's say that I also had other friends with whom I played against. For example Pepe Reina. The one with whom I have bonded a lot is Insigne, we have bonded a lot and we have fun in the national team. On the pitch we are opponents, after the match we are friends,”.
What are your aspirations as a footballer?
"Winning as many trophies as possible but above all winning the World Cup. I think it is the dream of all children, it would be the best,".
If you were to give advice to a younger player, what would you tell them?
"I'd tell him first of all to have fun. Humility, sacrifice, work always pays off. Having fun I would put it first, without fun you go nowhere. It starts with fun and then becomes a job,".
On the European Championship this summer with Italy:
"This is my first international tournament. I am living it quietly. The anxiety is there but I am calm and serene, I know we can and must do well, we are a great group. I can not wait to start,".
Could there be any surprises among the opponents in the Euro this year?
“Who can bother us most, in my opinion, is France. They have great footballers. I can't tell you who the surprise will be, I hope to get to the end and I won't talk about the others,”.
Is there a determining factory to win the Euro this year?
"The group, being united, feeling good together, can take you to the end. Then it is normal. It also makes a difference how you stay on the pitch and prepare for matches. In a long tournament with many matches the group makes a difference,”.
The keeper stayed on the twitch for about 30 minutes, answering all sorts of questions. Gigio did not talk about his renewal situation with Milan, which most fans were probably hoping to hear. Maldini stated publicly that he plans all renewals to be on pause until the end of the Serie A campaign.
