Italy goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma was applauded by the Stadio Olimpico crowd during Italy vs. Switzerland, contrary to what happened in Milan last month.
In October, the 22-year-old received a hostile welcome at San Siro when Italy hosted Spain in a Nations League semi-final.
It was the first time he returned to Milan since his free transfer to PSG in the summer.
Donnarumma was booed by his former Milan fans, causing controversy, as their welcome probably affected the goalkeeper’s performance with Italy that suffered a 2-1 defeat, the first one in three years.
Donnarumma got a very different reception in Turin a few days later, when Italy faced Belgium in the third-place playoff.
The same happened in Rome tonight. Italy fans applauded the former Milan star at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where the Azzurri play a crucial World Cup qualifying match against Switzerland.
Unfortunately, Donnarumma didn’t have a great start as former Udinese winger Silvan Widmer put his side ahead after just 11 minutes.
You can follow the live coverage of Italy vs. Switzerland on the liveblog.
Aaaaaaand another post sponsored by Raiola.
How many times have you written about that one incident? 10? 20?
So did the warm welcome improve his performance? No. Italy still did not play well even with a positive atmosphere and the draw was the right result.
Milan as a club is bigger than any player, disrespect and ungratefulness will never be tolerated, he may be a hero everywhere else by in Milan, Gigio will always be hated for what he did.
The fans of other clubs can cheer him, it is their right, just as it is ours to boo him if we want to.
Good to see FIGC doing the right thing…never play in Milan again with Gigio in the line up..Milan fans never forget.
probably the highlight of the game
Why wouldn’t he have recieved a warm welcome. What a ridiculous article to write.
Everyone knows why he had problems returning to Milan, even he knew otherwise he wouldn’t have pleaded before his arrival to those games at the San Siro.
What we should be writing about is the state if Serie A and lack of Italian talent coming through and gettijg game time at the big clubs not a goalkeeper and the lack of ‘booo’s’ he didn’t receive at a stadium that holds no significance in his career thus far to get booed in the first place.
Spot on @micah97
As a lifelong Juventus fan:
Who gives 2 shits about Donnarumma? These fans think he’s Gigi Buffon + Lev Yashin reincarnated? The fuck is this stupidity anyway?
If the fans wanted to applaud anyone at all, it should be the coach, who brought pride, professionalism and glory back to the nation of Italy with the win in Euro 2020. Donnarumma, Immobile, Insigne et al can sit on the bench and Squadra Azzurra would still win, because of the teen spirit and the humility Mancini has imbibed in the team.
And as for Milan fans’ heckling and booing, I, personally, wouldn’t do this, but it’s their right. Why so much limelight on 1 incident? Pathetic idiocy on the writer’s part I must say.
team spirit* (not teen spirit)
Is this article saying that Italy fans in Rome specifically applauded Donna whenever he got the ball. Or that he was cheered as every other fan was (so not booed)?
I watched on TV and could hear a specific change in crowd reaction.