AC Milan has turned the page on Paolo Maldini. With difficulty all the same because the start of the season is irregular and the atmosphere has not always been good at the club since his departure. First there were the moods of certain players like Mike Maignan. The latter even feigned a desire to leave since he had joined Lombardy thanks to the former defender. Since then, the transfer window has been there and is not completely satisfactory, as evidenced by the results of this first part of the year: very compromised qualification for the round of 16 of the Champions League and 3rd in Serie A.
It was the American owner, Gerry Cardinale, who did the internal cleaning. The disagreements had become too great to continue this mission together. Federico Massara, Maldini’s right-hand man, was also dismissed. The two men were replaced by Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada at the head of sports management. A pill which is still difficult to pass for the Milanese legend, even six months after his ouster. “I believe that the decision to dismiss me and Massara had been taken several months in advance. And in retrospect, I am forced to reconsider my relationship with certain people.
Maldini was not surprised by his dismissal
According to him, his fate and that of his former deputy had already been sealed for a long time. As proof, he wants their very late extension in June 2022. “It would have been too unpopular to send us back after the scudetto”he says in a long interview with La Repubblica which is making a lot of noise in Italy. He also affirms that the American owner has every right to no longer want to call on him. He still regrets the way he did it and especially not being in line with the values ​​of the club he spent so long as a player and then as manager.
“Methods are important and many things did not go as they should have, out of respect for people and their positions. I had to talk to find an agreement and not give up my rights, but I immediately told CEO Furlani that the last thing I wanted was a dispute with the club. He also defends his record and assures that there has never been a problem with Massara, quite the contrary. “The idea was conveyed that we did not share market objectives and strategies. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Still in love with AC Milan, it is now from a distance that he tries to maintain this fusion.
