AC Milan chief scout Geoffrey Moncada has revealed that Paolo Maldini plays a big role in convincing players to join the club after the initial scouting process.
For the first time in a while it feels like there is genuine harmony off the field and on the field at the club, with all the key figures pulling in the same direction and looking to achieve the same goal.
That goal – a philosophy outlined by owners Elliott Management – is to build a very young team but a very strong team that is capable of being the spine of the Rossoneri for years and years to come.
Some of the recent scalps like Theo Hernandez, Ismael Bennacer, Jens Petter Hauge and Simon Kjaer have given fans faith that the vision is working.
Moncada spoke to Podcast Prolongation about how Milan’s player recruitment works, and in particular why Maldini is such an important part of it.
“Among the things I like at AC Milan is the fact that we work with Paolo Maldini, who played there, he loves this club so much. When we sign a player, Paolo Maldini talks to him a lot and to his family,” he said (via MilanNews).
“When a young player arrives at Milan he says ‘ah, it’s Paolo Maldini, it’s impressive.’ Maldini’s work helps to understand where the young player is arriving and his new reality.
“We say to these young people: ‘Ok, so you have arrived at Milan, the work begins now. We believe in you, you don’t have to be shy, show that you have talent and impact. AC Milan are a huge club. Everything depends on your success’. We try to reassure the young players.
“When Paolo tells me that this player is worthy of Milan, that we can structure him, help him grow, I listen to him because he knows how to become a top player. He won a lot with Milan. He has passion in his blood.
“When we sign a player, Maldini pays particular attention to everything because he wants the player to be an added value. I talk a lot with him.
“Milan, before, was already a top club, so maybe they didn’t need to focus much on scouting. They brought the best players like Kakà and Shevchenko who already played in CL and he was already very good.”
