Gianluigi Donnarumma booed by his OWN fans throughout Italy’s Nations League loss to Spain as the San Siro crowd hit back at goalkeeper for quitting AC Milan for PSG this year
- Gianluigi Donnarumma was booed by Italy fans during their 2-1 loss to Spain
- The goalkeeper returned to Milan for the first time since quitting AC for PSG
- The Milan crowd jeered him every time he touched the ball and unveiled banners
- Roberto Mancini was annoyed after the match that Italy fans booed their player
- The jeers came three months after Donnarumma won Euro 2020 for the country
Gianluigi Donnarumma was booed by Italy supporters all throughout the Azzurri’s 2-1 defeat to Spain as he returned to the San Siro for the first time since swapping AC Milan for PSG.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper was Italy’s penalty shootout hero in the Euro 2020 final win over England and was named Player of the Tournament over the summer, but was jeered by his own fans due to his decision to quit boyhood club Milan this year.
Boos and whistles emerged from the San Siro every time the goalkeeper touched the ball in the Nations League loss to Luis Enrique’s Spain and the abuse followed a series of banners produced to provide a hostile Milan return for Donnarumma.
Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma was booed by his own fans during his country’s 2-1 loss to Spain
Donnarumma was jeered every time he touched the ball at the San Siro stadium in Milan
One banner inside the ground for Wednesday night’s match read: ‘You are no longer welcome in Milan.’
On Tuesday, a separate banner was placed outside the hotel where the Italian national team were staying for the match by Milan ultras, which read: ‘Donnarumma, you will never be welcomed in Milan again, piece of s***.’
Roberto Mancini revealed his frustrations at hearing his goalkeeper booed during the match – as he felt that type of atmosphere was more suited to a club match.
The Italy manager said after the game: ‘Donnarumma played for Italy and it was not a club game.
The 22-year-old was targeted by the Milan crowd after leaving AC Milan for PSG this year
The boos came just three months after Donnarumma won the Euro 2020 final penalty shootout
‘This situation could have been put aside for one night and whistled in a possible PSG vs Milan. Italy are Italy and come above all.’
Donnarumma switched Milan for French giants Paris Saint-Germain after Italy’s Euro 2020 victory, moving on a free transfer after his contract with the Rossoneri ran out.
The Italian came through the youth ranks at Milan and spent six seasons in the club’s first-team, making over 250 Rossoneri appearances in all competitions, but quit the club to sign a reported £200,000 a week plus add-ons deal in France.
He returned to Milan for the first time since his Serie A exit on Wednesday night, when he conceded twice in the first half to Ferran Torres’ double as Italy went down 2-1 in their Nations League semi-final.
Donnarumma conceded more than one goal in an Italy shirt for the first time in his career
It was the first time Donnarumma had conceded more than one goal in an international fixture, despite the 22-year-old making his national team debut five years ago.
Former Juventus and Roma manager Fabio Capello called on Italy fans to not boo Donnarumma on Wednesday night, even though the Italian manager admitted the goalkeeper had been ‘ungrateful’ to Milan and its supporters.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash, Capello told Il Corriere dello Sport: ‘I hope they will fulfil his desire because he is a national team player who has given an enormous contribution.
‘However, let me say that he was ungrateful to Milan. After all the club did for him and his family when he was a kid, he should have behaved differently.’