Luciano Spalletti gave a firm response when asked about the boos aimed at Gianluigi Donnarumma in Italy’s Euro 2024 qualifying win over Ukraine.
The Italian shot stopper infamously left Milan – the club he joined as a 14-year-old – for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer of 2021, a move that was widely derided by the Rossoneri fans, who accused the goalkeeper of being disloyal and greedy.
Italy hosted Ukraine in their Euro 2024 qualifier at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and the local fans made it clear that they still hadn’t forgiven Donnarumma for the nature of his move to PSG, loudly booing and jeering him throughout the match.
Speaking in a press conference attended by Football Italia, Spalletti was asked about his position regarding the boos for Donnarumma.
“We talked about it yesterday… Seeing a boy who is given this talent and sometimes misuses it is something to watch out for, because otherwise people have this urge to wait for you at the gate. We are privileged, if they boo it’s because we didn’t deserve the applause.
“One’s personality never reacts, sometimes you can react with attitude, other times with words. Other times you keep quiet and go to work even better. Probably if they booed us, they also saw something wrong.
“You have those who are humble because you have been given a chance that everyone would like to have, but cannot. And I don’t like those who then react on social media with little comments. We have a duty to behave like professionals, not like spoilt children. We keep quiet.”
Italy secured a vital Euro 2024 qualifying win thanks to a brace from new Inter midfielder Davide Frattesi. The result puts the Azzurri second in Group C, and they’ll return to action in October, when they’ll play Malta and England.
if i was him i would step dowm from the national teambeing booed in your own country playing national team not the club team biggest insult