Leonardo Bonucci described meeting a fan with Down’s Syndrome and realising Milan and Juventus have to “celebrate the festival of football” in the Coppa Italia Final.
The Coppa Italia Final is in Rome on Wednesday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
As part of the build-up, both teams visited the Quirinale to speak with President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.
“It is my honour to represent Milan here and to be with my opponents, who I still have great affection for,” said Bonucci.
Leonardo Bonucci described meeting a fan with Down’s Syndrome and realising Milan and Juventus have to “celebrate the festival of football” in the Coppa Italia Final.
The Coppa Italia Final is in Rome on Wednesday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
As part of the build-up, both teams visited the Quirinale to speak with President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.
“It is my honour to represent Milan here and to be with my opponents, who I still have great affection for,” said Bonucci.
He was photographed after the 4-1 victory at San Siro giving his captain’s armband to a young man in the stands.
“I would like to explain what happened to me on Saturday after the game with Hellas Verona. I met Ermanno, a 20-year-old with Down’s Syndrome, who wanted to participate with sweetness and truly moving spontaneity in the game.
“I was able to spend time with him after the match and realised something: he never once mentioned the word ‘match.’ It was a celebration for him. A party. A show.
“The way he experienced it was simply joy, with unstoppable enthusiasm that proved contagious for all around him, including my family.
“Ermanno taught me that you can transform a very antagonistic and hard-fought match into a respectful spectacle that reflects the values of sport.
“Tomorrow, Milan and Juventus have the duty to celebrate the great festival of football. Milan will do their part and I am sure, thanks to my direct experience, that Juventus will do the same.
“Too often we lose sight of the real point of our sport. Let’s enjoy the festival and give some entertainment to the millions of fans watching.”