"He started here, on this field. He came to see his big brother's training (Antonio, who also became a professional goalkeeper, editor's note) and he also put himself in the goal to make parades", describes to AFP Ciro Amore.

The president of the ASD Napoli football school saw journalists parade on this synthetic lawn which runs along a fast lane, in Castellamare di Stabia.

A city in the Bay of Naples, a stone's throw from the dormant volcano and the site of Pompei, where the hero of Euro 2020 saved his first penalties.

But the sexagenarian never tires of recounting the beginnings of the "Gigione", of which he proudly shows the first licenses, signed in childish handwriting, the photos and the jerseys sent by the 23-year-old star who hopes to remain a holder on Wednesday in Champions League, at Real Madrid, after being preferred to Keylor Navas in the first leg.

"He was only four and a half years old and couldn't be in a team, but we started bringing him into training. He was never afraid of anyone. He already had a physical different, he was quite big. We could see that he had all the characteristics of a great goalkeeper", continues the president.

"Father" and "friend"

"The technical qualities, yes, but he had others, in particular his character. He was never tired of playing and training", adds Angelo Panariello, coach in this club where the doorman of PSG used his gloves until the age of 14, before leaving to grow up with the youth of AC Milan.

Having become the holder of the Rossonero club at only 16 and a half years old, until his departure for Paris last summer, Donnarumma owes a lot in particular to the local goalkeeper trainer, Ernesto Ferraro.

In addition to the Donnarumma brothers, Ferraro has trained other goalkeepers who have played in Serie A: Gennaro Iezzo, who passed through Naples, and Antonio Mirante, still third goalkeeper in Milan.

"If today I realized my dream of treading the lawn of San Siro, I owe it above all to you", had paid tribute to him Donnarumma, at the time of his death in December 2018.

"Thank you for being an invaluable guide, a father, a friend. You came to take me home, rain or shine, to take me to training, matches, tests," he said. wrote on Instagram.

"Ernesto always told me: Gigione will not only arrive in Serie A, but also in Nazionale, because as soon as I say something to him, he remembers it", reports Angelo Panariello.

Milan derby

"His only problem, which can be a quality, is that he never wanted to lose. When he lost, he was furious and attacked us, telling us that we had made a mistake in the composition! “, laughs the ex-coach.

Already over 1.90 meters tall, the young goalkeeper did not go unnoticed for long and the president was in a hurry with questions about the "phenomenon": "I received calls every week: where does he play? what time ?"

The most difficult for the carpenter's son will be to choose between the two Milanese clubs, according to Ciro Amore.

"The first club interested was Inter. The youth manager came here, in the office, to discuss with the father. We even went to Milan to sign a pre-contract with Inter," he says.

But the family choice ultimately fell on the rival club, where brother Antonio (nine years older) was already playing.

According to various media, AC Milan would have paid some 250,000 euros to attract hope Gianluigi.

"The 200,000 or 300,000 euros we are talking about, I don't know where they went! We, as a club, only received 25,000 euros", assures Ciro Amore.

Donnarumma has not had the opportunity to set foot on this lawn for years, but he returned last summer to visit his parents, who are still living a few kilometers away in a house between Castellammare and Pompei.

With around his neck the precious medal of European champion and more than ever, deep inside him, the sacred fire.

© 2022 AFP