2022 World Qualifications – Italy – North Macedonia: Donnarumma, the second Mona Lisa who worries Italy

We have known, for a long time, the strong will of the Italians to repatriate “The Mona Lisa” to the country. For them, the portrait of Mona Lisa, signed Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, really has nothing to do with the Louvre. In essence: put it anywhere in the Boot, but bring it home. A refrain which thus makes it possible to maintain this rivalry so particular and – let’s face it – good child with France.

So, two days after the incredible elimination of PSG against Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League, The Gazzetta dello Sport has decided to (re) pass this message on the front page. But with one exception. Replacing the face of Mona Lisa, we found that … of Gianluigi Donnarumma, author of an error which precipitated the improbable comeback of the Merengues. With a title that could not be clearer: “Come back home, Gigio“.

For the whole of the Italian press, suddenly gripped by an astonishing psychosis, the French media were the authors of too strong criticism of the Parisian goalkeeper. “France has decided to demolish it“, could we read outright in One of the Corriere dello Sport. To come to the rescue of the Donnarumma, the heavy artillery was brought out. First there was Dino Zoff in the columns of the gazzetta : “Leave him alone, warned the winner of the 82 World Cup. We must not put a goalkeeper in so much trouble. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, the error on the goal is not his fault. I will never understand this desire to build on the ground from the goalkeeper.”

Then Gianluigi Buffon followed suit: “No to lynching (…) Gigio is one of the best goalkeepers in the worlddropped the former Parisian porter at the CorSport. Gigio is one of the top three goalkeepers in the world along with Courtois and Neuer. Mistakes are part of the journey of a career. I am sure there will be no negative repercussions, no problems.” And to say that during this time, in France, a much more general trial around PSG was continuing. Donnarumma was criticized, of course, but at the height of his error. No more, no less.

If the Italian press has risen so much to defend its goalkeeper, voted best player of the last Euro won at Wembley, it is particularly in view of the dams at the 2022 World Cup which are looming. The first decisive meeting is scheduled for Thursday against Macedonia in Palermo, before a final in Turkey or Portugal. So to avoid a new apocalypse after that of 2017, you might as well not weaken a goalkeeper who has become more vulnerable since his arrival in Paris last summer.

To reassure him, Roberto Mancini did not hesitate to pick up his phone the day after Real-PSG. “A mistake can happen to anyone. I’m still counting on you, see you for the play-offs“, told him in substance the Italian coach. “He will have to turn into a psychologist to reassure a goalkeeper who has been much criticized since his mistake in Madrid. Then he conceded three new goals in Monaco last Sunday…“, wrote the Corriere della Sera Monday. Present at a press conference on Tuesday, the “Mancio” did not show any concern about Donnarumma, believing that it is better “have it with us” than “vs“.

“We do not know his internal situation in Paris, but he seems very calm since his arrival here.we are told from Coverciano, the training center of the Nazionale. Gigio is always very smiling and jokes a lot with his partners, who are mostly his friends off the pitch. I think this international parenthesis will do him good, even if the stakes are high.” Marco Verratti, he assured that his teammate was not demoralized. “He was especially disappointed after his mistake against Realhe admitted, however. But he is a special boy. The next day he was already working enthusiastically. Let’s not forget what he did in the last Euro, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”

A competition with Navas which goes badly

If the status of Donnarumma remains unchanged with the Nazionale, the one he enjoys at PSG has never really been digested by the transalpine press. For her, there should have been no match with Keylor Navas. It must be said that since his first match with AC Milan in October 2015 at just sixteen years old, “Gigio” had never experienced competition from another goalkeeper, thus beating all the precocity records of the Lombard club. For him, this data was therefore new. For Italy too.

According to The Gazzetta dello Sport, the hypothesis of seeing Donnarumma land one day in Piedmont is however still plausible. “There has never been a feeling between PSG and the goalkeeper, who could study a departure next summer. Juve remain a possibility but Szczesny’s contract is an obstacle“, confirmed the daily ten days ago.