Serie A Was labelled a 'piece of s**t'

Wednesday night was not a particularly enjoyable one for Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was subjected to chanting and an angry banner ahead of AC Milan's Coppa Italia win over Verona.

The Italian press had reported of how the player apparently felt physiological pressure to sign a new deal with the club, a comment the fans didn't appreciate at all.

Club captain Leonardo Bonucci did have the youngster's back, though, and consoled him in the dressing room afterwards.

Gennaro Gattuso, the new coach, also defended the player.

"He is just an 18-year-old kid," he said.

"He'll have my protection.

"People are making him out to be a monster and he doesn't deserve it.

"Luckily there were only 9,000 in the stadium, imagine if there had been 50,000."

Donnarumma did play in the match and kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory.