After commenting how much Milan means to him, Gianluigi Donnarumma explained how he doesn’t expect any hostility from the Rossoneri faithful. However, he was greeted with a resentful banner on his arrival in Milan – set up by the club’s ultras, the Curva Sud.
And as expected, it didn’t stop there. The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was heckled throughout the Azzuri’s 2-1 UEFA Nations League semi-final loss against Luis Enriques’s Spain at the San Siro, his former home for most all his playing career.
The former Milan goalkeeper was jeered almost non-stop, inspite of his heroic performances for the national team in the EURO 2020 tournament where he won the best player award.
The first personality to condemn the actions of the San Siro crowd was coach Roberto Mancini, who expressed extreme displeasure at the reception of the highly-rated goalkeeper. He emphasized that the supporters should put forth the national team first before any annoyance over club matters.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Mancini said: “It certainly won’t have pleased him, just as it did not please us. Gigio did well. Obviously, it was disappointing, because this was Italy playing, it was not a club match. They could’ve put it aside for one match, maybe saved it for PSG-Milan, because Italy are meant to come above everything else.”
22-year-old Donnarumma moved to Paris after spending six seasons in Rossoneri colours, a club he has been part of ever since he was 14.