Former Milan star Gigio Donnarumma returns to San Siro for the first time since joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, will he meet a hostile environment at his old home ground?
The 22-year-old decided to see out his contract at Milan and when his deal expired in June, he moved on to pastures new.
The Italy international helped the Azzurri win the European Championship before joining PSG in the French capital, where he has struggled with playing time at the start of the season.
As Keylor Navas has been the preferred choice in Paris, Donnarumma was replaced by an impressive Mike Maignan at San Siro.
The former Rossonero stressed he ‘will always be a Milan fan’ during the press conference ahead of the Azzurri’s clash with Spain in the UEFA Nations League Finals on Wednesday.
Donnarumma: ‘I moved to PSG to play, I will always be a Milan fan’
But already in 2017, Donnarumma was targeted by sections of furious Milan fans, when his agent Mino Raiola openly admitted he wanted the goalkeeper to leave the club. He then signed an improved deal with the club, including a possibility for his brother to be part of the squad.
The 22-year-old was bombarded with fake banknotes and banners reading ‘Dollarumma’, due to his economic demands to stay at the Rossoneri.
Another banner that had an impact on the player, was the one reading: “Moral violence, €6m a year and the signing of a parasite brother? Now get out, the patience is finished.”
Over and over again, Donnarumma has performed in the hostile environment, but he’s still haunted by the wrath of the Milan fans as he returns to San Siro with Italy this week.
Now, the situation is even more special, as he decided against renewing with the club and leave on a free transfer, joining the other superstars in Paris.
He was asked if he expects a hostile atmosphere at his old ground, given the tense relationship between the young goalkeeper and his former club.
“I have always given everything for Milan, right up until the end,” Donnarumma said at the press conference yesterday.
“I would be sorry, because this is a very important match, a Nations League semi-final, so I hope the fans can help us.”
Yes. I’ve heard Inter, Juve and other club’s fans share their views on him and even they, for the most part, agree he’s a mercenary who has been put under a spell of delusion.
It’s hard to say. The state Serie A and Italy are in with options makes it difficult. A player that doesn’t play but is probably the first name on Azzurri team sheet tells you the state we are in and is shameful in itself.
I will definitely be booed, laughed at for sure as he has gone from starter week on week to bench warming in one of the most one sided leagues in the world.
He will either be back at Milan on loan next season or Juve.
Honestly Jez I don’t think we would take him unless someone takes Maignan off our hands for a lot of money. I think he will stay there and if the South American contingent of PSG is disbanded then Navas will be gone and Gigio can start. He represents an investment in youth for PSG so they’ll surely be more eager to keep him onboard.
Of course he will be, and I can’t wait for it.
I’m the biggest Azzurri fan but I would boo him all game if I was there.
You reap what you sow.
Jez……..who won the European Cup? Come have a glass of my homemade Italian red, I promise you it would be half full and not half empty………my God!
Azzurri before Club, standard! Would you leave your job for more Money? Course you would! Sempre Italia
You should see the way clubs treat players!
Luis Suarez ‘s treatment by Barcelona coming to light recently.
But the ONE time a player treats a club poorly and suddenly it cannot be tolerated.
Marco the point I am trying to make is if we had more players to choose from we wouldn’t have to play him at all in the san siro and he would have no reason to plead with the fans to not insult him, this is made worse esp as he is not actually getting any game time at PSG yet he is playing for Azzurri. We don’t know if he is in form or not. Believe me i wish the glass was always full but reality always steals some from the glass.
Forza Italia