Gianluigi Donnarumma was booed by Italy supporters all throughout the Azzurri's 2-1 defeat to Spain as he returned to the San Siro for the first time since swapping AC Milan for PSG.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper was Italy's penalty shootout hero in the Euro 2020 final win over England and was named Player of the Tournament over the summer, but was jeered by his own fans due to his decision to quit boyhood club Milan this year.
Boos and whistles emerged from the San Siro every time the goalkeeper touched the ball in the Nations League loss to Luis Enrique's Spain and the abuse followed a series of banners produced to provide a hostile Milan return for Donnarumma.
One banner inside the ground for Wednesday night's match read: 'You are no longer welcome in Milan.'
On Tuesday, a separate banner was placed outside the hotel where the Italian national team were staying for the match by Milan ultras, which read: 'Donnarumma, you will never be welcomed in Milan again, piece of s***.'
Roberto Mancini revealed his frustrations at hearing his goalkeeper booed during the match - as he felt that type of atmosphere was more suited to a club match.
The Italy manager said after the game: 'Donnarumma played for Italy and it was not a club game.
'This situation could have been put aside for one night and whistled in a possible PSG vs Milan. Italy are Italy and come above all.'
Donnarumma switched Milan for French giants Paris Saint-Germain after Italy's Euro 2020 victory, moving on a free transfer after his contract with the Rossoneri ran out.
The Italian came through the youth ranks at Milan and spent six seasons in the club's first-team, making over 250 Rossoneri appearances in all competitions, but quit the club to sign a reported £200,000 a week plus add-ons deal in France.
He returned to Milan for the first time since his Serie A exit on Wednesday night, when he conceded twice in the first half to Ferran Torres' double as Italy went down 2-1 in their Nations League semi-final.
It was the first time Donnarumma had conceded more than one goal in an international fixture, despite the 22-year-old making his national team debut five years ago.
Former Juventus and Roma manager Fabio Capello called on Italy fans to not boo Donnarumma on Wednesday night, even though the Italian manager admitted the goalkeeper had been 'ungrateful' to Milan and its supporters.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's clash, Capello told Il Corriere dello Sport: 'I hope they will fulfil his desire because he is a national team player who has given an enormous contribution.
'However, let me say that he was ungrateful to Milan. After all the club did for him and his family when he was a kid, he should have behaved differently.'
Fatokid
619
After everything Milan did for him... he let Raiola turn his head to greed. -we showed faith in him at age 16 -we made him the highest paid gk in Italy at age 20 -we even signed his 29 year old elder brother who was a wack gk and continued to pay him for sitting on the bench which means we were paying his family about 300k weekly -we didn’t drop him or loan him when his silly mistakes were costing us points... But he still left Milan and made sure we didn’t earn 1€ from him. That’s sad 😞 Milan fans won’t ever forget this ! Betrayed for money! He’s not the first Milan player to leave for money... Juve signed our ex-captain di sciglio but the fans weren’t mad because he was a good professional...
Graham_De
475
He left Milan for Money but because of fans actions he lost concentration his morality led him to mistakes that cost Italy to loose… 😪😪 I personally believes Country comes first Clubs problems, second…
AFaixal
430
Instead of booing him, is better we praise this guy.. Mike has turned out to be perfect replacement.. Curva sud need to move on.
KingJerryTheGreat
353
And worst of all is his play time in PSG is. limited because of Keylor Navas....
Anthovagasta
140
Italians are one of a kind.
wotcelnosu
15
After everything Milan did for him... he let Raiola turn his head to greed. -we showed faith in him at age 16 -we made him the highest paid gk in Italy at age 20 -we even signed his 29 year old elder brother who was a wack gk and continued to pay him for sitting on the bench which means we were paying his family about 300k weekly -we didn’t drop him or loan him when his silly mistakes were costing us points... But he still left Milan and made sure we didn’t earn 1€ from him. That’s sad 😞 Milan fans won’t ever forget this ! Betrayed for money! He’s not the first Milan player to leave for money... Juve signed our ex-captain di sciglio but the fans weren’t mad because he was a good professional...
I feel your pain
Andile1986
11
After everything Milan did for him... he let Raiola turn his head to greed. -we showed faith in him at age 16 -we made him the highest paid gk in Italy at age 20 -we even signed his 29 year old elder brother who was a wack gk and continued to pay him for sitting on the bench which means we were paying his family about 300k weekly -we didn’t drop him or loan him when his silly mistakes were costing us points... But he still left Milan and made sure we didn’t earn 1€ from him. That’s sad 😞 Milan fans won’t ever forget this ! Betrayed for money! He’s not the first Milan player to leave for money... Juve signed our ex-captain di sciglio but the fans weren’t mad because he was a good professional...
you should have sold him when he had years on his contract. i remember chalsea wanted him and you said no. he wouldnt be the first player to leave on a free. Zlatan, pogba, lewndoski etc all left on a free
Fatokid
8
you should have sold him when he had years on his contract. i remember chalsea wanted him and you said no. he wouldnt be the first player to leave on a free. Zlatan, pogba, lewndoski etc all left on a free
Yes we should have sold him then, Our former management made the mistake... But I don’t think I’ve seen a homegrown superstar who left for free! Milan compromised a lot for donnarumma... But he wasn’t willing to do the same for Milan since it was going to accept his salary. Raiola taught him greed!