Italy star booed by home fans despite Euro 2020 heroics
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma received a hostile reception as the Azzurri hosted Spain at the San Siro on Wednesday evening.
The 22-year-old left AC Milan after eight years with the Italian giants; signing for Paris St-Germain on a free transfer in July.
Rossoneri fans clearly disapproved of his departure, and let their feelings known in Milan during the loss against Spain.
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Donnarumma was awarded the Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament after helping Italy win the competition. Despite this, home fans did not hesitate to jeer the young goalkeeper at the San Siro.
It was a disappointing evening all round for the Azzurri as a Ferran Torres brace ended the Italians 37-game unbeaten run, stretching back to 2018.
They struggled from the first whistle, and Donnarumma was perhaps phased by the venomous reception he received from his own fans.
L’arrivo di donnarumma sotto la sud, volume al massimo amici pic.twitter.com/AZamTSTxxU
— simo🪿 #PIOLIOUT (@simostwt) October 6, 2021
Italy manager Roberto Mancini condemned the situation after the match.
“It certainly won’t have pleased him, just as it did not please us. Gigio did well,” he said.
“Donnarumma played for Italy and it was not a club game.
“This situation could have been put aside for one night and [he could have been] whistled [at] in a possible PSG vs Milan [match]. Italy are Italy and come above all else.”
Lorenzo Pellegrini grabbed a late consolation goal against La Roja as Mancini’s men lost in the Nations League semi-final.
Leonardo Bonucci was sent off in the first half after receiving two yellow cards, which had a large effect on the match. Spain – who were already on top – dominated proceedings after Italy went down to ten men.
Elsewhere, England striker Tammy Abraham is loving life under Jose Mourinho after answering the Roma manager’s call to spurn Premier League interest for a fresh start in the Italian sunshine.
He said: “Why Italy? Good question. I had different options. So many clubs I was speaking to at the time. Italy came and I spoke to Jose. He had a goal.
“I could see where he wanted Roma to go and see where he wants to take them and I wanted to be part of the process. He really put his trust in me so he was a big impact on the reason why I chose Roma.”
