Maldini admits to having ‘slightly bigger targets’ with Milan’s project under Cardinale

By Oliver Fisher -

Paolo Maldini has revealed his impressions of new AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale so far and what the next phase of the project is for the club.

AC Milan clinched their first Scudetto in eleven years last season and the optimism is more evident than it has been for years. There is a two-fold challenge in the current campaign though as they not only want to repeat that success but they also want to assert themselves in the Champions League.

Maldini spoke on stage at the 2022 Sport Festival in Trento and he was asked about a number of different topics as part of the event, including being questioned on his thoughts regarding Cardinale whose fund RedBird Capital have now formally completed their takeover of Milan.

“When in doubt I told him my story (laughs). Those who come from a different continent and are used to seeing different sports: like going to lunch with a baseball legend. I told him about my story and my life,” he said (via MilanNews).

“Gerry is a person who has energy. He wants to do, and to listen. I like him very much. The idea that is conveyed is a kind of continuity compared to Elliott, they have taken this club that has been restored economically and which now should be able to climb back towards slightly bigger targets.”

Maldini was then pressed on what exactly these targets might be, given that the logical next step after a league win is to go further in Europe and perhaps in time build a side capable of winning the Champions League.

“Winning the Champions League? There is no promise, I can make the promise to you: that of not going beyond your economic limits. All this goes through a restructuring of all Italian football in general, the difference with English football is almost unbearable.

“The budget difference puts us in difficulty. We have other weapons, such as history and more ideas. The safe limit for the next few years is that of revenues/investments, we will not go beyond our possibilities.

“The desire, determination and ambitions are there. I want an ambitious team, we are Milan and history speaks for us. It is not a speech to be made only for Milan but for the whole of Serie A, our TV rights are worth too much little for what we are.”

Tags AC Milan Gerry Cardinale Paolo Maldini

10 Comments

    1. Better than reckless rich owners. Be grateful for gods sake, when we have the new stadium we will become even more sustainable which can help our transfer budget further

    2. Manchester United has spent 1.5B€ in the last decade and what have they won? One Europa League title. Juve made 250M€ losses last season. What did they achieve? Nothing.

      Money isn’t everything.

  1. Reading some comments makes me shake my head – some need to realize real life isn’t a FIFA game. You have zero clue how business works and it’s evident in your clueless posts. Milan is one of the best financially structured teams thanks for Elliott and will be able to sustain it in a long run. Stop whining about spending more etc – they just won Serie A! As for Leao, if he wants to stay he will sign and stay, if he doesn’t, he will leave. No one is above Milan – great players have came and went and Milan always survived and thrived. Spending tons of money isn’t always the way to go – how many champions leagues have Man City or PSG won with billions of dollars spent? ZERO!!! So STFU if you have zero clue about things.

    1. I just love how you have put it. Spending billions isn’t guarantee of silverware. Milan’s path to sustainability is assured. History attracts great talent to Milan. The future is red and black!

      1. Exactly! Manchester United has spent 1.5B€ in the last decade and what have they won? One Europa League title. Juve made 250M€ losses last season. What did they achieve? Nothing.

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