PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma to enter lion’s den on return to crisis-club AC Milan

MILAN – Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to be given a fierce reception on Tuesday, when he faces crisis-club AC Milan in the Champions League at the San Siro for the first time since jumping ship to Paris Saint-Germain and becoming public enemy No. 1.

Donnarumma enraged Milan supporters when he left as a free agent just over two years ago, costing the seven-time European champions a hefty loss of transfer fee for a goalkeeper considered at the time to be one of the best, if not the best, in the world.

Milan had lost other players in that manner over the past few seasons, including Serie A title-winning midfielder Franck Kessie to Barcelona, but Donnarumma’s exit hurt the most.

The Italy goalkeeper signed for Milan as a 14-year-old, became a first-team player at 16 and had repeatedly professed his love for the club, making supporters believe that he would remain a fixture in the way Gianluigi Buffon had at Juventus.

Instead, he refused to bend on wage demands over months of talks and walked away, replaced by PSG academy product Mike Maignan, whose solid display helped Milan claim their first league title in 11 years in 2022.

However, Maignan’s superb performances did little to dull the anger of the betrayal, while Donnarumma had failed to convince fans in Paris, where he moved after starring in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph.

“It’s tough but you need to distance yourself from it,” said Donnarumma to Mediaset in October, talking about the criticism.

“We’re all human, obviously you read things on social media, but you need to distance yourself from it.

“Mistakes happen, we’re not robots but the important thing is to work hard and push forward with the team.”

Donnarumma was inundated with boos and whistles on all three occasions he has played at the San Siro with Italy over the last two years.

Milan fans in the crowd had also left little doubt of the reception he would receive should PSG ever come to town.

Last week, Milan’s hardcore supporters hinted at the welcome they would give Donnarumma at the San Siro, publishing on their Instagram page a picture of boxes containing material for a pre-match display which will almost certainly be aimed at the 24-year-old.

An emotional night for Milan fans comes with the team at a low ebb, with coach Stefano Pioli and the team booed off the field after Saturday’s

1-0 defeat by Udinese

which left them in third place, six points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan and four adrift of Juventus.

“I have everything I need to do a good job and if the results don’t come then it’s my fault,” said Pioli after Saturday’s loss.

“I’ll work on how we play, but we can’t perform how we did against Udinese.”

Pioli’s team are yet to score a single goal in their Champions League campaign and have won just one and lost three, including the

3-0 hammering

at the Parc des Princes, in their last six matches in all competitions.

Legendary Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Is there somebody thinking it is Pioli’s fault? I hope not.

“I think the biggest error was made at the start. That’s where all the problems began.

“Too many foreign players were signed. Those coming from abroad take a while to understand our league and our methods. These guys seem confused and the result is that Milan do not always look like a team.”

Despite being bottom of Group F, Milan, with two points, can still qualify for the last 16 as two points separate them from second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who host Newcastle United in one of Tuesday’s two early matches.

Pioli is sweating on the condition of France fullback Theo Hernandez and right-winger Christian Pulisic, although both should be fit to play, unlike Rade Krunic, who is out with a thigh injury.

But Milan’s recent poor form and the prospect of a wobbling defence facing Kylian Mbappe and company have the home fans fearing Donnarumma may just have the last laugh. AFP