AC Milan's teenage sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma is without question the future of Italian football and is set to ascend Gianluigi Buffon's goalkeeping throne in the next few years.

The 18-year-old started his first game for the national side in the 2-1 win away in the Netherlands on Tuesday night.

The Milan prodigy became the youngest keeper to play for the European nation and his outstanding maturity has been noted worldwide with plenty of elite club's eyeing his signature in the summer.

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Juventus legend Buffon has enjoyed a stellar career, earning 168 caps for the national side and spearheading the Turin club's dominance in recent seasons.

The 39-year-old is undoubtedly one of the true legends of the game and Donnarumma has revealed that he gave him some words of advice before arguably the biggest moment in his career so far.

“I am very happy for this evening, the way the game went. At the start after the goal we got back together, started playing the way we did at the beginning and realised it was just a moment of bad luck,” Donnarumma told Rai Sport.

“I am very happy to have made my full debut, but Gigi’s still there. I thank him for all the advice he gives me in training. I am proud to wear this jersey.

“Buffon told me to just relax, do what I’m doing and not try to invent anything new, as what I do already is fine. I am so proud to be here, I work hard week after week to improve, because you never stop learning. I soak in all the advice that I receive.

“I dedicate this night to my family and my girlfriend.”

Buffon really is just a decent bloke overall and the day he announces his retirement will be a sad one for all football fans.

Luckily, it seems as if he is going to hold off on that notion until after the completion of the 2018 World Cup.

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