AC Milan’s former technical director Paolo Maldini spoke a bit about Yacine Adli and Daniel Maldini, but refused to answer questions on his old club.
The surprise retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the final match of 2022-23 was an emotional curtain call after a rollercoaster campaign, but there was to be even bigger news to come less than 48 hours later.
Indeed, soon after that win against Verona the news broke that club icon Maldini and his right-hand man Ricky Massara were being relieved of their duties as the technical and sporting director, plunging the project into disrepute.
The reasons for the dismissal of the duo was debated at length but in short it seemed Gerry Cardinale wanted a more collegial working group, with Geoffrey Moncada effectively promoted.
Since then, Maldini has been linked with various jobs but has remained unattached, but there have even been rumours about him potentially being the face of a Saudi consortium who might look to buy the club from RedBird Capital.
Maldini was interviewed at Coverciano by a few journalists who were present and he answered some questions about players that he worked with at Milan, with his comments relayed by TMW.
Do you like Serie A?
“I like it, without a doubt: it’s a league that isn’t considered too strong, but on a technical, tactical and knowledge level it’s in the top three.
“Starting grid? It’s the usual one. Inter are the best equipped team, then there have been many changes in the various opponents who need a little time to put the team together a bit.”
What is your opinion of Yacine Adli?
“He found little space in Milan in his first year, last year more. I think he can give a lot to Fiorentina, he has great vision and is a good guy.”
Are you bored at home?
“No. In the end, my career has been long and demanding, even as a director. Even the periods of rest are healthy.”
We can’t ask you anything about Milan?
“Rightly so.”
Is Daniel Maldini a Serie A level player?
“There are players who are precocious, others who are late. He is probably late, but he has a quality that is not common: in shooting, in seeing the game. And now he has physically exploded. Now is the time to show what he is worth.”
Who came closest to Inter?
“Milan came in second last year and are another candidate, Juve have strengthened, as have Napoli and Roma. The teams aiming to win the title are always the same.”