These back-to-back UEFA Champions League matches against AC Milan will be emotional for Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper played for the Serie A giants’ first team from 2016 to 2021 while coming up through their youth system.
However, he didn’t leave on the best of terms. Still, it doesn’t change that Donnarumma will have various feelings when he faces Milan on Wednesday and returns to a hostile San Siro on Nov. 7.
Donnarumma spoke with reporters on Tuesday and shared his thoughts on playing his former club in these two contests.
“It’s a very emotional match for me,” Donnarumma told reporters Tuesday (h/t Paris Fans). “Finding Milan is special. But I also have to keep my emotions in check and focus on the match. I feel very good here. There is a big family in Paris, as was the case in Milan.
“I spent eight years there and I owe him a lot. I will always have this club in my club. But I feel very good in Paris, with an incredible atmosphere. I was very well received by the supporters, and I give my best.”
The 24-year-old also touched on trying to repair his relationship with the Milan supporters. Some of them likely heckle the goalkeeper when he plays at San Siro while with the Italian national team.
It will be interesting to see if either side wants to repair the situation or if there is something neither party can fix. Nonetheless, the Milan supporters will make their feelings known in the return leg.
