Exclusive interview with Repubblica: “He wanted me to win the Champions League, but he had already decided to let me go.”
Paolo Maldini spoke freely, without restraints. Six months after being dismissed from Milan, he returns to talk with Enrico Currò in an interview published exclusively by Repubblica. The former Rossoneri legend spoke about everyone, from Cardinale and Scaroni to coach Pioli and the new Stadium.
And then a clear message for the current management: “Today, you are in charge, but please respect the history of Milan.”
MALDINI’S WORDS
“Cardinale told me that Massara and I were fired, justifying it on our bad relationship with Furlani and adding the Champions League semi-final lost to Inter. With him (Cardinale), in one year that we worked together, all I have is one chat filled with 4 messages. I had been asked to prepare a plan to win the Champions League. I drew it up with Massara and a friend consultant, sent it, but I never received a response.”
The former Rossoneri executive then spoke about some concluded and some missed deals during his time with Milan: “For Ibrahimovic, there were many meetings before we brought him at Milan. It wasn’t an easy deal. Then they criticized me for De Ketelaere, but for such a young guy, the percentage of failure is high. Leao, Bennacer, and Theo were not liked at the beginning too. Messi? He was free after leaving Barcelona, but it remained just an idea because Leonardo told me that PSG were ahead.”
“Furlani informed me of a low budget for this season, but after my departure, it was doubled.” Then he had some interesting words about President Scaroni for whom he said “He was always in the front and center for the cameras during the Scudetto, but I often saw him leave the stadium early when things weren’t going well. There is no real love for the club anymore.
What about Pioli? “He should be thanked for his good job, but giving him tasks beyond his scope will only make him more isolated.”
Finally, a remark on algorithms and Milan’s “Moneyball”: “There’s was no need to get Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, and Chukwueze, all of them in one transfer-market.” When asked on the new stadium: “I fought for a better location; but it is what it is.”
