ANTONIO MIRANTE: OUR FOCUS

It was an unexpected signing but a necessary one following the injury to Maignan. Ahead of the Frenchman's return and due to Plizzari's absence, AC Milan were forced into action and chose to bring in Antonio Mirante as their new goalkeeper. Released by Roma last season, the Italian - born in 1993 - brings with him a wealth of experience and quality.

He has made almost 450 appearances in the professional game, mostly in the Italian top flight but also in European football. He is a reliable 'keeper and is hungry to get back out onto the pitch. Being a consummate professional, he hasn't stopped training and kept believing that another chance would come his way. And it did, fascinatingly, with the Rossoneri. 

Born in Castellammare di Stabia, he started out in the football school in his city before moving to Sorrento. Mirante's career took off in January 2000 when he secured a move to Juventus. He played in the Bianconeri's Primavera, where he won two Viareggio Tournaments, before moving up to the first team for the 2003/04 season, though he didn't make a single appearance. His journey around Italy then began with loan moves to Crotone (2004/05 in Serie B) and Siena (2005/06). Since his Serie A debut in August 2005, only Consigli (410) and Handanovič (519) have made more appearances as goalkeepers in the top flight than Mirante (368) and only Sorrentino Sorrentino (1165), Consigli (1270) and Handanovič (1490) have made more saves (1137).

He returned to Juve in 2006/07 (Serie B) to act as a back-up for Buffon before a short stint with Sampdoria (2007-2009). His longest spell at a single club was with Parma (2009-2015), after which he linked up with Bologna (2015-2018) and, finally, Roma (2018.2021). He was in and around the national team between 2010 and 2019; the temporary and precautionary call-up to the Italy squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, for example, should be noted.

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