Having read Paolo Maldini’s beautiful interview with Gazzetta in the early morning, the first temptation was to write here that Paolo was right to sell, from the first to the last line. And certainly the regret for not being able to do that interview that so many aspired to, personally strengthened by a good relationship that had lasted 35 years, increased from one response to another. Then it is clear, everyone is free to choose who to talk to and Paolo has chosen the most important and widespread sports newspaper, because he wanted to be sure that his words had the widest echo.
With a cool head, we decided to wait a few hours. The beauty of the web is also this: every moment is good to publish “your” newspaper. On newsstands or on tablets you will find the morning edition and then nothing more until the next day. Calciomercato.com is an online newspaper that is updated at any time and then at that point, with Paolo’s outburst on display everywhere, it became interesting to comment on his reactions as well.
Zero from Elliott, ditto from Gazidis, the only real news of the afternoon comes from England, where Newcastle are overtaking Milan for the defender Botman, with which the Rossoneri club has been in agreement since January. But if the agreement does not pass to the drafting of contracts, the agreements fail and the players do not arrive. It is so for Botman and equally risks being so for Renato Sanches.
So what would Maldini not be right about? In the timing of the release? And when should he have spoken, in the Scudetto sprint? In ways, more as a “footballer” than as a manager? In the substance of the allegations, as if it were normal to know from the media that the property is selling the club? What’s more, just a few hours away from a delicate championship match?
Let’s not forget that, after Leonardo’s farewell, who returned to PSG in June 2019, at the end of Elliott’s first season, Maldini found himself alongside Zvone Boban, friend and precious shoulder in the most delicate choices, given the already extensive experience at the managerial level, which Maldini did not have at the time. We want to think that Maldini and Boban have never heard from each other, since the Croatian was fired (without just cause, a court established in 2 levels of judgment) in March 2020, when he opposed – immolating himself – to the arrival of Rangnick, already planned for next season? Shall we imagine that he cannot take the silence around him as a loud warning?
Commenting on the AC Milan championship, we talked about Elliott’s treble and we have no intention of changing our minds: he has (almost) cleared up his accounts, he has won, he is about to sell for a high profit. Stuff for smart people, you can’t say anything else. So why not ensure continuity for Maldini, Massara and the technical project? Perhaps because the change of ownership is underway and the current one does not want to expose itself for who will take over? But let it be said clearly, these weeks are already on the market, the first negotiations must be continued and concluded. Who does it for Milan?
Maldini explained that he has no dialogue with the CEO, who also has an expiring contract and a salary as a multinational supermanger (there are 4 million, up to November) and not from SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) which is a company like Milan, which has a turnover of 300 million a year. How can this happen in a club that has just won the Scudetto?
Only yesterday, here on CalcioMercato.com, the always punctual Alberto Cerruti invited Milan not to rest on their laurels. The team that has just won must be reinforced immediately in order to win back, but stories. Losing Botman would be the worst of beginnings. Losing, after Boban, also Maldini (and Massara) would be the beginning of the end, of a story that has just begun. The clause of 150 million unveiled exclusively by CalcioMercato.com currently guarantees AC Milan from those who could launch on Leao, but to whom it is essential to immediately adjust the contract, so as not to be bewitched by the sirens that will soon dance in front of him, if not already there. ‘they did.
And instead Milan is asleep, and it’s not just sleeps of glory. He sleeps because after the scudetto hangover, he rediscovers himself in the swamp of the last 2 months, those in which it entered when the first concrete offer to buy arrived, that of Investcorp. From then on, nothing happened and for something to happen the sale must be finalized. The Arabs, who so visually seemed to better guarantee the expectations of the fans, were preferred by other Americans, those of Redbird, with a formula of sale not yet fully known, but which is evidently more appreciated by Elliott. The important thing is to do it quickly, as well as well. Each passing day is an opportunity that can fade away. This was simply said by Maldini, hoping to be heard.
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