AC Milan supporters were out of order for their treatment of Gianliugi Donnarumma, prominent Italian football agent Carlo Volpi has told Tribalfootball.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper, recently linked with a move to PSG, was abused by the club's ultras during Milan's 3-0 win over Verona.
Donnarumma was distraught after the match and was consoled by team captain Leonardo Bonucci after a section of the Milan fans unfurled a banner which read: "Psychological violence by giving you €6m a season and signing your parasite brother? It's time to leave… our patience with you is over!"
The Milan academy product, and his controversial agent Mino Raiola, came under fire for dragging out contract negotiations over the summer. The matter was compounded last week when speculation Raiola was trying to cancel the extension broke to the press.
"Psychological violence by giving you €6m a season and signing your parasite brother? It's time to leave… our patience with you is over!"
AC Milan fans are not holding back with Gianluigi Donnarumma
(H/T @IFTVofficial) pic.twitter.com/90ni02TOMO
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 13, 2017
Speaking exclusively to Tribalfootball, Volpi believes the gesture was cruel and unnecessary, and claimed the Milan fans should instead cherish a player of Donnarumma's talent.
“Usually I don't speak about my colleagues or the way clubs work, but the image of this young kid harshly criticised by his own supporters really makes you think," said Volpi.
“It is fair to say, however, that only those involved in this situation know what is really going on.
“Let's not forget we are speaking about a young man of incredible talent. Maybe we should focus more about the man Donnarumma than the player."
After the match, the Italy international responded to the situation on Instagram.
His caption read: "It was a bad evening, one I did not expect. I have never said or written that I suffered moral violence when I signed the contract.
"Despite everything, I look forward with my head focused on the next game. Forza Milan!"
Gennaro Gattuso, the former Milan player who recently replaced Vincenzo Montella as the club's manager, also came to the defence of the young goalkeeper.
"I am the coach of Milan, so I can talk about the lad, the athlete, but nothing else. Gigio has not told me personally that he wants to leave. If he did, that would be different.
"I'm not talking about Mino Raiola, because I speak to Gigio every day. I don't know if Mino is trying to push players away from the club either.
"I feel terrible about this, as people are painting a kid as if he's a monster and he doesn't deserve it. Fortunately, there were only 9,000 people in the stadium tonight, imagine how it'd feel if there were 50,000 insulting him."
