Giroud sends love to Leao and sheds light on Maldini’s exit: “I was disappointed”

Olivier Giroud has shed some light on how the team felt after Paolo Maldini left his role as technical director back in 2023.

Giroud made it clear when he arrived at Milan in 2021 that it was the realisation of a dream he had since he was a child. He provided so many big moments, from the derby brace to the winner at the Stadio Maradona, hoisting the Scudetto above his head in his first season after joining.

Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!

Having left at the end of 2023-24, the Frenchman went to try a new experience in the United States with Los Angeles FC. The pull of Europe was too big to resist though and he ended up returning to his home country to play with Lille, whom he is still scoring for now at 39 years of age.

Giroud on Maldini exit and Leao jeers

After the first part of the interview with MilanNews was published on Tuesday, the same source have now published part two of the chat with correspondent Alessandro Schiavone.

Was Paolo Maldini’s departure in June 2023 hard for you players to digest? Some players like Theo and Leão never returned to their former levels…

“It’s difficult to have a season like the one that won the Scudetto. It’s easy to say that, but obviously, working with Paolo and everything he represents for Milan and Italian football, I was very proud of him.

“But yes, of course, I was disappointed that he left. But Milan must now move forward with the people who are here today. Maybe one day Paolo will return to Milan.”

Would you like to return to Milan as a director? Or perhaps a final year as a player next year?

“(Laughs) I don’t know what I’ll do after my career or if I’ll stay in football. But if Milan needs me, why not? For now, I’m a Lille player, but I miss Milan, Milan, and San Siro. Just as I miss the love and passion of the fans.

“I hope to return soon to see a match and see all the people who mean so much to me. I’d like to return to the atmosphere of San Siro, which was different. Today, I’m a Lille player, and I still don’t know if I’ll continue playing next year or retire.”

What do you think of Leão’s delicate moment and have you read Rabiot’s statements asking the fans to support him and no longer boo him?

“I was very happy when I saw that Adri had signed for Milan. I told everyone it was great, great for Milan. And for him too. He’s a natural leader who needs to talk to the players and also with Rafa.

“Leão needs support and I’m sure that not only Adri is there for him but also Mike and Luka. The whole team is helping him. Rafa, if you hear from me, I want to tell you that I love you.”