Donnarumma vs. Maignan, a clash at San Siro between AC Milan’s past and present. What kind of reception will Gigio receive?
The City goalkeeper and Magic Mike will face off in Italy vs. France. The Rossoneri will support Mancini's national team, but how the stadium will treat the Italian goalkeeper remains an unknown.
The past and present of AC Milan's goalkeepers meet tonight at San Siro. Face off. It's not the first time, but it's always newsworthy.
Gigio Donnarumma and Mike Maignan are two of the best goalkeepers in the world, and as opponents in the Italy-France match, they'll divide the Rossoneri crowd at the Meazza.
On one side is the Frenchman, a favorite of AC Milan fans and captain of Amorim's team. On the other is Donnarumma, who left the club on Via Aldo Rossi on a free transfer in 2021.
Gigio still has AC Milan in his heart, but his relationship with his former fans has changed since then. Maignan is the new idol, and even if he'll be defending France, the AC Milan fans won't boo him. How they'll deal with Donnarumma remains to be seen.
Let's hope no one forgets that he wears the blue jersey, but given his history...
Maignan arrived at AC Milan when Donnarumma decided not to renew his contract. Everyone (or almost everyone) remembers the story: meetings between Maldini, then the Rossoneri's technical director, and Gigio's entourage failed to reach an agreement.
AC Milan walked away from the negotiating table and acquired Maignan from Lille for €15 million. Donnarumma signed with PSG in July 2021. Since then, every time he's returned to the Meazza, even for the national team, he's been booed by his former fans. Yesterday, at a press conference, Mancini said: "Those who go to the stadium have the right to boo.
But Gigio is a great goalkeeper and an extraordinary person; he doesn't deserve to be criticized for events that date back a long time. Let's hope he gets applause this time." Tonight we'll see how he'll be welcomed at San Siro. Those boos weigh heavily on him, because they come from the fans of the team he grew up with and to which he remains deeply attached.
Donnarumma vs. Maignan, a clash at San Siro between AC Milan's past and present. What kind of reception will Gigio receive?
Donnarumma vs. Maignan, a clash at San Siro between AC Milan's past and present. What kind of reception will Gigio received.
The City goalkeeper and Magic Mike will face off in Italy vs. France. The Rossoneri will support Mancini's national team, but how the stadium will treat the Italian goalkeeper remains an unknown.
The past and present of AC Milan's goalkeepers meet tonight at San Siro. Face off. It's not the first time, but it's always newsworthy. Gigio Donnarumma and Mike Maignan are two of the best goalkeepers in the world, and as opponents in the Italy-France match, they'll divide the Rossoneri crowd at the Meazza. On one side is the Frenchman, a favorite of AC Milan fans and captain of Amorim's team. On the other is Donnarumma, who left the club on Via Aldo Rossi on a free transfer in 2021. Gigio still has AC Milan in his heart, but his relationship with his former fans has changed since then. Maignan is the new idol, and even if he'll be defending France, the AC Milan fans won't boo him. How they'll deal with Donnarumma remains to be seen. Let's hope no one forgets that he wears the blue jersey, but given his history...
linked destinies
Maignan arrived at AC Milan when Donnarumma decided not to renew his contract. Everyone (or almost everyone) remembers the story: meetings between Maldini, then the Rossoneri's technical director, and Gigio's entourage failed to reach an agreement. AC Milan walked away from the negotiating table and acquired Maignan from Lille for €15 million. Donnarumma signed with PSG in July 2021. Since then, every time he's returned to the Meazza, even for the national team, he's been booed by his former fans. Yesterday, at a press conference, Mancini said: "Those who go to the stadium have the right to boo. But Gigio is a great goalkeeper and an extraordinary person; he doesn't deserve to be criticized for events that date back a long time. Let's hope he gets applause this time." Tonight we'll see how he'll be welcomed at San Siro. Those boos weigh heavily on him, because they come from the fans of the team he grew up with and to which he remains deeply attached.
Maignan idol
Then there's Magic Mike, the goalkeeper who helped AC Milan win their last Scudetto, the 2021-22 season, in his debut season. Last January, six months before his contract expired, he chose to extend his contract with AC Milan. This decision contrasts with Donnarumma's, which strengthened his bond with the fans. Today, he wears the captain's armband and is a point of reference for Amorim, as he was for Allegri and the coaches who preceded him. Paid €15 million, Maignan proved to be a major transfer coup. His performances earned him a €7 million renewal, including bonuses, and a spot in the Rossoneri goal for years to come. Above all, he has inherited the legacy of a San Siro idol and the starting goalkeeper of the Italian national team, leaving AC Milan fans with little reason to miss him. Tonight, AC Milan fans in the stands will cheer for Italy. However, the prognosis for the applause for the two goalkeepers is different. Those for Maignan could be stronger, even after Mancini's appeal...