Rome (AFP)

The title of champion of France barely celebrated, Mike Maignan turns the page Lille by joining for five years AC Milan where he will have the heavy task of succeeding Gianluigi Donnarumma, the child of the Rossonero club.

"I can not manage to forget Donnarumma, but I come to do my job and give the best of myself", assured the third goalkeeper of the France team, during a press conference in Clairefontaine where the Blues are gathered to prepare for the Euro.

AC Milan had formalized a few moments earlier the signing until June 2026 of the 25-year-old goalkeeper, who will keep the Rossoneri cage with the N.16 jersey.

The goalkeeper signed his contract Tuesday in Milan, after having passed his medical examination.

The 48-hour delay allowed AC Milan to formalize the departure of Donnarumma on Wednesday: a child of the club, whose Serie A goals he has kept since he was 16 and a half, "Gigio", 22, is at the end of the contract, but the discussions held for several months with his agent, the powerful Mino Raiola, did not make it possible to find common ground on the salary conditions.

- "Grown up as a man" -

"It is a very ambitious project, which will help me in my progress and I know that I can bring more to AC Milan", assured Mike Maignan, who arrives in Milan when the club will find the Champions League, after seven years of absence in the most prestigious club competition that the Rossoneri have won seven times.

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In Lille, this season, the goalkeeper, holder in power of the Blues in some time, continued to gain stature.

First on the field, where he had a full season, with 21 "clean sheets" (matches without conceding a goal).

Then in the locker room, where he speaks regularly.

The Guyanese, rather reserved, has become one of the executives of the workforce, and in a season without an audience, his voice has often resonated in empty stadiums to motivate his teammates or call them to order.

"I grew up as a man, I gained experience, maturity. The head conditions a lot," he explained.

Lille confirmed for its part "the total agreement concluded with AC Milan for the transfer of Mike Maignan".

- "Ibra" makes him "kiffer" -

Hit hard by the crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic and by the failure of Mediapro, the Ligue 1 broadcaster, the new French champion, who has also just lost his trainer Christophe Galtier, should receive a transfer allowance of around 15 million euros, according to the Italian press.

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In Milan, Maignan is delighted for his part to find with "Ibra" a player he adores: "I love him phew. It is true. He says what he has to say to you in front of you", said- he in December 2019 at France Football, about the Swede - true soul of this new Milan - whom he had the opportunity to meet in training at Paris SG a few years ago.

Maignan had explained in particular having replied to an insult from the Swedish giant on shooting sessions, but everything was settled amicably in the locker room: "Once back in the locker room, he told me + That's good, j 'love how you are, I love your personality. + Already that I loved him, it made me kiff this person even more ", had told Maignan who will once again be able to train on the strikes of the Swede, who extended his adventure in Milan for almost 40 years by one season.

Sessions which, far from scaring the neo-Milanese, are a motivation for his arrival in Italy: "Serie A is a very tactical championship, training is very physical, and that's what you need when you want progress ".

© 2021 AFP