The return of Mike Maignan to AC Milan is still awaited, and his absence continues to fuel questions around the Lombard club. As summer preparation draws to a close and the resumption of Serie A is fast approaching, the French goalkeeper will only return to Milanello on Sunday, after having benefited from a few additional days of vacation with Adrien Rabiot. A decision validated by Ruben Amorim and the Milanese management, who consider the two internationals as major elements of the locker room after a trying season and a particularly demanding World Cup. On paper, this extension of rest therefore does not reflect any sanction or exclusion. In fact, the timing necessarily raises questions, especially just a few days before the first official meeting of the season against Torino.
Because for several weeks, the name of Maignan has been regularly associated with the tensions surrounding the new Milan. The French goalkeeper was notably criticized by some supporters and journalists, after his notable absence at the funeral of former Rossonera legend Franco Baresi, while he was enjoying a vacation far from Italy. His attitude has also fueled certain questions since the end of the last financial year. Since May 24, Maignan has been particularly discreet and has practically no longer communicated around Milan, going so far as to delete all of his publications on social networks, including those related to the club. A few months earlier, his future had been the subject of much speculation, including an insistent rumor around Chelsea. Despite his extension until 2031 signed in January, the 31-year-old goalkeeper now seems at the center of a soap opera whose contours remain particularly vague.
A decisive meeting between Amorim and management
This situation becomes even more serious with the new information from La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian daily indicates that the future of Maignan will be at the heart of a meeting planned for Thursday between Gerry Cardinale, Ruben Amorim and the Milanese management. The club wishes to keep its captain and remains convinced of his sporting importance, but also intends to measure his state of mind at the time of his return. An individual meeting should thus make it possible to clarify everyone’s intentions, while the managers do not want to keep a major player against his will. At the same time, a new lead emerged with the interest of Al Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo’s club is looking for a new number one goalkeeper and could look into the Frenchman’s file to replace Bento. However, there is nothing to confirm at this stage that Maignan would be seduced by an adventure in Saudi Arabia.
The future of Magic Mike has gradually established itself as one of the most sensitive issues of the Milan summer. His long-term contract, his substantial salary and his status as captain argue in favor of continuity, but the signals sent in recent weeks maintain a certain unease. Milan do not wish to open the door to a departure and no major European team currently seems to be looking for a goalkeeper of his caliber. However, the hypothesis of a separation can no longer be completely ruled out if a major offer were to arrive and if the main interested party clearly expressed his desire to leave. After several months of speculation, the next few days could therefore be decisive in understanding Maignan’s true intentions and knowing whether he still intends to be fully involved in the new Rossonero project.
