Milan teen Donnarumma youngest keeper to start Serie A match

Milan teen Donnarumma youngest keeper to start Serie A match

Published Oct. 25, 2015 6:44 p.m. ET

MILAN (AP) AC Milan teenager Gianluigi Donnarumma became the youngest goalkeeper to start a Serie A match on Sunday when he made his debut for the club at the age of 16 years, 8 months, 6 days.

Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic surprisingly chose Donnarumma ahead of the experienced Diego Lopez and his side went on to beat Sassuolo 2-1.

''I don't look at the age but only if he is good or not,'' Mihajlovic said. ''It shouldn't be a drama.''

Donnarumma was beaten by a free kick by Domenico Berardi that made it 1-1 in the 53rd minute, but Luiz Adriano scored late to give Milan the win.

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The youngest goalkeeper to play for Milan in the league was Giuseppe Sacchi, who came off the bench at the age of 16 years, 7 months, 24 days in a 3-1 loss to Fiorentina - 73 years ago to the day.

It was his only official match for Milan.

Gianluca Pacchiarotti holds the record for the youngest ever goalkeeper in Serie A after playing the final 10 minutes for Pescara in a 1-0 loss at Perugia on March 9, 1980. He was 16 years, 6 months, 16 days old.

Italy and Juventus goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon was 17 when he made his debut for Parma.

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