Paolo Maldini was one of the guests present at the presentation of Adriano Galliani’s new book, and he revealed some interesting anecdotes on stage.
This evening at the Teatro Manzoni in Milan, Galliani presented his autobiography ‘The memoirs of Adriano G.’ which will soon be on sale. Maldini was there as part of the event and he spoke on stage, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
“First of all, I can say that I was lucky to have been born the son of Cesare, the AC Milan captain, to have been born in Milan and to have been able to play with this glorious shirt,” he began.
“And then at a certain point in my life, at the age of 18, President Berlusconi arrived with Adriano Galliani as CEO and made all of us live an incredible dream, because what President Berlusconi told us in the Milanello hall on the first day he met the team is actually what happened.
“Indeed, then we multiplied it by two, by three, by four and by five. Those who live Adriano’s life and football with passion have great esteem, because he does it in the same way.”
Galliani then took to the floor and has some nice words for Maldini.
“Paolo rightly remembered his dad, I miss that football a lot. In a football of free transfers, billionaire commissions and everything that happens… when we get to Paolo Maldini, it was 1986, he was 17 years old, he had been a regular in Milan for more than a year and his contract was about to expire.
“Milan has a romantic characteristic, no team in Europe, I don’t know in South America but I don’t think there either, they had the good fortune of having two captains, father and son, who both win the Champions League.
“It’s something that doesn’t happen and I don’t know if it will happen again. In fact, unlike Franco Baresi’s shirt which has been retired forever, Paolo Maldini’s shirt has been retired but has a chance, if one of his sons were to be in Milan and were to lift the cup then the number 3 can be re-printed.
“Going back to the contract, what did Cesare say? Maybe we didn’t agree the first time, the second time etc etc, but he comforted me when he went away, he didn’t scare me. He said to me: ‘Don’t worry Adriano, no matter what I won’t take Paolo away’.
“And this is something I will always remember. Instead with Franco [Baresi], the immortal captain, I remember one thing: in my 31 years I have always negotiated economic contracts with all the players, with the exception of one, the Capitano.
“The Capitano had the honour and the privilege of going directly to Arcore, he reached an agreement with President Berlusconi, then they told me the amount and I typed, it was said once.
“But the player who put me in trouble the most was Billy Costacurta. Billy Costacurta, the smartest of the gang, was the only player who arrived, he looked blank and then said to me: ‘You understand a lot about football, so you know how much Tassotti, Baresi and Maldini earn, see for yourself’. And I was shocked (laughs).”
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