Less than two months ago Gianluigi Donnarumma was an Italian hero. His save on Bukayo Saka's decisive penalty kick during the Euro 2020 final clinched a shootout victory for gli Azzurri and gave Italy its first European Championship since 1968.
Yet three days later he was out the door. After months of failed contract negotiations between Donnarumma and AC Milan, the 22-year-old keeper and his exorbitant wage demands headed to PSG on a five-year deal.
Wednesday's UEFA Nations League semifinal between Italy and Spain was Donnarumma's first time back at the San Siro since his contentious departure, and boy did the home fans let him hear it.
His Euro 2020 heroics were completely forgotten and the Italian fans treated their own keeper as if he were a sworn enemy, beginning with incisive jeering on his first touch of the match:
European champion who?
Did we forget that Donnarumma had announced his departure from Milan a full two months before the Euro 2020 final, or that the non-negotiable $14 million commission per year demanded by Donnarumma's agent Mino Raiola made a new contract at Milan a non-starter?
The man who allowed just four goals across 719 minutes of play at the European Championship deserves a little more respect from his countrymen, regardless of which club he plays for.
Gianluigi Donnarumma denies Bukayo Saka to clinch #ITA's first European title since 1968. What. A. Final #EURO2020
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) July 11, 2021
Donnarumma did seem to be a bit troubled by the cold reception he received, as a fumbled catch on a simple shot nearly gifted Spain a goal in the first half if not for a goal-line clearance from Leonardo Bonucci.
Though Bonucci saved his keeper on that occasion, Spain did score twice in the match, defeating Italy 2-1 to advance to the Nations League final.
¡Agárrense de las manos! ⚽
Donnarumma estuvo a nada de regalar el segundo para España en menos de un minuto. ¡Qué salvada de Bonucci!0-1 #Italia | #España | #NationsLeague
¡En vivo!
TUDN y @unimas
https://t.co/zkkohSGtnf pic.twitter.com/MMBkslOOKa— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 6, 2021
Sure, jeer him when he comes back in a PSG shirt, but whistling at a guy — a national hero — while he's playing for the national team is a bit excessive, regardless of what may have happened during the prolonged contract negotiations.
