Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma, 16, becomes youngest 'keeper to start Serie A match

AC Milan's 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will make his competitive debut against Sassuolo on Sunday, becoming the youngest shot-stopper in Serie A history to start a match.

Donnarumma won the confidence of manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, who decided to sit his usual No. 1, the 34-year-old Diego Lopez, after a spotty performance against Torino last weekend.

The Milan youth product dazzled onlookers in preseason with saves during penalty kicks against Real Madrid.

It is still, however, a bold move by Mihajlovic. Not even Gianluigi Buffon began his senior career this early. He was 17 when he made his debut for Parma - against Milan, incidentally.

But Donnarumma, standing at a lean 6-foot-4, was expected to get some playing time after making Milan's final squad for the season as the third goalkeeper behind Christian Abbiati and Lopez.