Gianluigi Donnarumma keeps breaking records. At only 16, the man who replaced a former Real Madrid goalkeeper is now averaging less goals conceded per game than a certain Samir Handanovic.

With the Inter defence creaking and the Slovenian playing well below his previously excellent standards, Donnarumma has now only conceded 12 goals since Matchday 9, a ratio of 0.75 goals per game. That’s less than Handanovic’s 0.87. Since Milan - Sassuolo, only two goalkeeper have done better: Gianluigi Buffon has conceded 7, Pepe Reina 11.

Donnarumma will turn 17 later this month (the 25th). Only 12 months ago, he’d signed his first professional contract, a three-year deal, worth €160.000 a season. Milan have already let agent Mino Raiola know that they want to sign the youngster to a five-year, €1 million a season contract as soon as he turns 18. All to keep Manchester United at bay. The Reds’ interest in Gigio is hardly a secret.

Donnarumma joined the club when he was very young, but they first heard of him when Mauro Bianchesi, the youth setup’s chief scout, told Adriano Galliani that he’d seen a 13-year-old goalkeeper “with great body size, and extremely gifted in terms of strength and technique. Impressive read on the game, and coverage of the goal. He’s a positive kid, the best I’ve seen in my 25-year career”.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Galliani immediately called him, telling him to “go to him and stay there, were it to take two days or six months”.

It took about a year for the now-14-year-old to overcome the obstacles that every young player who wants to leave his region faces.