Paolo Maldini feels Gianluigi Donnarumma, Milan and the ultras all come out of their tense stand-off as losers. “It’s really sad.”
The club legend spoke to Tuttosport about his career and the problems experienced by current goalkeeper Donnarumma.
Paolo Maldini feels Gianluigi Donnarumma, Milan and the ultras all come out of their tense stand-off as losers. “It’s really sad.”
The club legend spoke to Tuttosport about his career and the problems experienced by current goalkeeper Donnarumma.
“It has been a complicated season, partly due to the change of ownership after so many years, partly as there were so many new players brought in over the summer and that made it difficult to forge a team. The results certainly haven’t been what everyone hoped for at the start of the season.”
Donnarumma’s future remains in the balance, especially after he was insulted by his own fans following errors against Juventus and Atalanta.
“In life I’ve learned that if you don’t experience an environment where things are happening, it becomes difficult to truly understand it.
“However, communication is very important and there were certainly mistakes from one side and the other. I don’t know how this situation will end.
“What’s really sad is that Donnarumma is so talented, so young and so promising, but has already burned bridges with part of the fans. It’s not good for him, the club or the supporters.
“I think he lasted too long under this onslaught. His calm during various protests seemed very strange, as I have experienced the pressure of San Siro.
“I think Donnarumma is only now paying the price for a year of really over the top controversy, such as for example the former Premier Enrico Letta saying – despite not knowing the situation – that Donnarumma should’ve focused on taking his exams. These were things that didn’t need to be said.”
Maldini experienced this first-hand, as his final match at San Siro was marred by a protest from ultras.
“At the time, I was disappointed, but then with a clear head I was actually happy, because I never identified myself as an ultra.
“Milan need time to make that step up in mentality that makes a normal team become winning. Milan always had a certain type of mentality that has been lost, while Juventus maintain this quality over the years, as the club owners are still the same.”