Paolo Maldini is an AC Milan legend, and that will never change, but he admitted in an interview today that he does not think the club are the biggest in world football.
After leaving Milan last summer, Maldini has rarely spoken about the Rossoneri in recent times, likely due to the fact that he respects the club too much to speak about things negatively or cause controversy – due to the way he is viewed by fans. However, his love for the club still remains.
Today, speaking to Real Madrid TV, Maldini admitted that his former club were not the biggest in the world, and Milan News have transcribed his words.
“I think Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, with Milan in second position. I believe that what Real represents the most for the fans is their own identity. People like Florentino Perez, Emilio Butragueno and all the people who work for the club every day give more and more strength to this identity.”
Maldini also spoke about his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti and the pleasure which he had ending his career under the iconic Italian.
What do you think of this year’s Real’s squad?
“He has incredible players, my friend Carlo Ancelotti has to find balance, which is the hardest thing to have in football.”
The relationship with Ancelotti:
“Mister [Ancelotti] was my partner because we played together for 4/5 years, winning the European Cup. For me playing the end of my career with Carlo as coach was a great pleasure. We enjoyed the time together.”
Maldini has been invited to the 125th-anniversary game this weekend, and despite saying the Rossoneri are not the biggest club in the world, there will be no difference in his welcome home.
Lol, Milan is not even second in a Serie A.
You don’t think he is talking about history?
Right now we are nothing in Serie A.
shots fired
Milan used to be the 2nd biggest football club in the world, not anymore.
Milan have barely won anything over the last 15 years and done nothing in Europe in the last 18.
Time waits for no one.
Until we’re overtaken, we’re still the second best club in Europe’s history. How much time has passed since our last UCL is irrelevant, only the number of titles matter.
Real Madrid, easily the biggest club in Europe, had also a big European drought between 1966 and 1998 and then between 2002 and 2014, the difference though is that domestically, they kept winning many la Ligas.
Unfortunetly for us however, our time at the top might come to and end very fast. In 2007 only 2 UCLs separated us from Real Madrid, while Bayern and Barcelona were far behind us. Right now Real Madrid has more than the double of our titles and soon enough, Liverpool, Bayern and/or Barcelona will reach their 7th UCL. Liverpool is the best club in Europe this season IMO and they might win their 7th UCL by may.
Of course we are still the 2nd biggest club in the world. Players leave and success can dwindle but the trophy cabinet is still full. If its only about current strength of squads what’s the matter then because it is actually the trophies that is fought for and there we are still the 2nd biggest club of teams in top leagues. At least for now that is.
If we talk about squads, form then obviously not but Maldini was clearly hinting at our overall success as a club over the years and anyone thinking otherwise must be sniffing glue.
You should stop sniffing glue.
How is a club that isn’t even the biggest club in its own country be the 2nd biggest in the world behind Real Madrid?
The Champions League titles isn’t the only parameter.
Juventus has DOUBLE the amount of scudetti than Milan.
Bayern has 33 Bundesliga titles and only 1 less UCL than Milan.
20 German cup, 11 Super Cups.
Barcelona 27 Spanish titles, 31 league cups, 14 supercups, 5 UCL. They have 12 European titles compared to Milan’s 9.
Milan, 19 scudetti, 5 Copa Italia, 7 supercups, 7 UCLs.
Milan cabinet might be full but other teams got bigger cabinets.
We are all Milan fans but some are delusional.
It’s about the impact the club has had on the game. If you judge on trophies add in Rangers and Celtic. For me it’s the legacy a club had on the sport. Sacchi, Michels and Shankly were absolute visionaries
😂😂😂
Right, because Barcelona with Pep had no impact on the game. Only some dude that was a relevant coach for about 3 years had impact on the game.
Pep has argued that his inspiration to his coaching style comes from Cruyff and Sacchi. Klopp also mentioned sacchi as an inspiration, same goes for Ancelotti and so on… so whos delusional now.
Your lack of football knowledge and in particular Sacchi and his importance actually angers me 😂😂 you just make yourself look foolish.
There’s an excellent independent podcast called It was what it Was where they look into all of footballs finest moments and visionaries. They did a 5 part on Sacchi and his importance to the world of football. These aren’t Milan fans.
One of the parts is by Jamie Carragher who states how Benitez modelled himself of Sacchi, the two presenters and carragher cite Sacchi as the birth of modern football and how following Sacchi it was never the same. Sacchi invented modern football. All the top coaches of the 2000s cite Sacchi as their mentor. Benitez, Mourinho, Carlo…then the influence Sacchi had on the Stuttgart school which then took pressing to a new level with the likes of Klopp, Raignick, Flick, Nagelsman and Tuchel.
I love Pep but pep is just an extension of Cruyff who was resoundingly beaten by both Sacchi and Capello! Cruyff and Sacchi both emphasised the press but Sacchi more off the ball and around the spaces. That’s why he did his revolutionary training sessions without a ball and comes which Benitez then did for Liverpool.
Educate yourself…Sacchi was around for 9 years, he changed football, listen to the podcast. You once claimed that Sacchi only won because Silvio bought the best players, again showing your naivety, Sacchi didn’t want the best players, he was about the system not the superstar, see his Rijkaard/Borghi argument with Silvio…he didn’t get on with Van Basten. Young Italian coaches like Lippi said in the 89s that once Sacchi had developed his style there was no other way than pressing…he ended the catenaccio Liberian style.
But sure…he did nothing…🙄
That as well but It’s not like Rangers or Celtic plays in a great league either and their european trophy cabinets isn’t filled to the brim even though they have a few combined.
Oh i hit a nerve there then Mr. Bubbles.
We are the 2nd most winning team of Champions cup/CL + we are also one the teams in the world with the most trophies overall.
Bundesliga hasn’t been the same since the 90ies as Bayern basically has a monoply on that league.
Juventus one of the most fraudlulent clubs around.
Milan also has other trophies than those even if they lost the lure over years but several of the ones that predated the champions cup.
Don’t talk about being delusional with me as you are basically one of the most deluded commenters on this website.
Ha ha 😂.
No facts, just feelings.
You seem to forget that Milan was also involved in a lot of fraudulent activities.
Relegated to Serie B for match fixing and almost relegated to Serie B again in 2006, involved in the same scandal with that same fraudulent club Juventus.
Milan greatest success happened while Berlusconi was the leader of the country and very much involved in politics.
Bring some facts and numbers, spare me your feelings.
Berlusconi wasn’t in power in the late 80s and early 90s….Milan’s most dominant period…more stupidity from you…think or at least research before you post
Did I say Milan didn’t have a history either. When we was relegated in the early 80ies though it was down to some players due to the betting scandal if my memory serves me right and not the club as such but we got relegated nevertheless.
If anyone is getting emotional here then it seems to me its you 😀
I can stand these self deprecating Milan fans..😂
Mr Bubbles has a hard on for Madrid, doesn’t understand football, only looks at numbers and stats and draws conclusions…
He goes ahead to make it like Milan never won titles pre Berlusconi.
Or that Milan only became famous because Berlusconi was in power.
So many brain challenged commenters on this forum.
😀 Yeah it also bothers me.
I wonder how he viewed them when they hadn’t won the EC/CL for 31 years or all the new rich clubs when they wasn’t rich.
Oh it’s very simple Martin… Maldini said something so he automatically disagrees. Doesn’t matter what it was. What a twank! Haha 😂
There are a couple of clubs that have a legit claim for next best but to say we don’t is lack of understanding and knowledge of history of the game (not for the first time either)
Absolutely.
As Drew mentioned further up Milan, Madrid and Liverpool. Then I would throw in Bayern, Barcalona, Utd. and River Plate following them. After them Ajax, Benfica,
For me an all time Milan XI is better than an all toke Madrid XI..most successful and best are different imo
I agree with that list too. My personal top is Madrid but they went clear after their 2010s runs in the UCL. Then there’s us, Pool and Barca. Big clubs with big history. Then the next would be Bayern, Utd. Etc (But I can see an argument for Bayern in our tier as well). While it’s very subjective you will notice some common names in the top 5 for most folks.
We’ve had clear distinct impacts on the European stage since the 80s, 90s, 00s. Each decade we did something/had a mini era…which not alot, if any, clubs can boast. That’s incredible in my books and it’s a major reason why we’re so revered.
You can tell when past players talk about us. They will tell you no one wanted to face us. We were THAT club.
The other thing is on the domestic front you can be the best locally but where you are judged amongst your peers are on the international stage. I can guarantee you most Juve fans will want to trade in a few of their Scudetti for a European Cup.
As much as I hate Madrid, the top three are undoubtedly Milan, Madrid, and Liverpool. The teams of Shankly/Paisley and Sacchi/Capello were the two most revolutionary teams
In the history of the sport along with Michels Ajax. I don’t think Madrid are that far ahead on merit, so much controversy around Franco (Do Stefani) competition i the 50s, training ground gifts and general unregulated spending..they are royal owned and therefore untouchable imo. In terms of football that changes the game Milan and Liverpool are the top two….
I mean should he lie??
Even calling this present Milan second biggest in the world is a tall order.
Milan is sinking….we need new management and owner.😭
why this come-up after D’ttavio sacking?
is jeri realize his mistake? if Maldini come to the anniversary what will jeri ask?
All I’m happy with is that the legend Maldini will not be barred from the 125 year celebrations 🎊🎉, that would’ve been the greatest tragedy if he wasn’t allowed. #AlwaysMilan ❤️🖤
He’s my boy, always has been always will be. He’s my favourite ever player and in my view the best player to ever Grace the game:::keep your Ronaldo’s, Messi’s, Pele’s etc, nobody dominated their position for 20 years to such a high standard. He reinvented the LB position is still the benchmark. He then transitioned to be one of the best CBs we’ve ever seen..