A clip showing Theo Hernandez with Paolo Maldini in the centre of Milan from Monday has quickly done the rounds, with the pair sharing smiles and laughter.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, the content is obviously unknown, but the meeting between Theo and Maldini that took place yesterday at a place where Paolo has always been a regular customer. Especially in bad times like these, it has a certain effect on the eyes of the fan.
It is not exactly a positive effect either, because Theo hasn’t been himself all season and there is talk of his time at the club ending in the summer, while Maldini remains for many a symbol of a previous successful era and a sense of attachment lost.
Twenty-nine years separate them, but friendship often has no age. Theo and Paolo had a coffee yesterday, and it was quite a long one. They shared one in Ibiza back June 2019, when Maldini basically convinced the Frenchman to move to the Rossoneri, and a lot has happened in six years.
It has always been a special relationship right from the start. Theo instantly fell in love with the idea that a legend like Maldini had come to visit him specifically to pitch the project, while Paolo completed one of the most important purchases of his time and he was a key piece of the Scudetto win.
Scattered throughout these six years are many memorable phrases. Maldini said to Theo: “You are my worthy heir, I love you” and “What he does, no one else does, he revolutionised the modern idea of the role.”
Theo returned the compliments: “He was decisive in my decision to come to Milan. Our meeting in Ibiza convinced me that this was the right place for me.” It grew further when Hernandez first reached and then surpassed Maldini in number of goals (30) in Serie A, becoming the most prolific Milan defender ever.
“Happy to reach 30 goals with Milan and make history with this shirt. Sorry Paolo Maldini but you told me. I love you,” wrote the Frenchman on social media, with Paolo responding like this: “Great Theo, the small difference is that it took me 25 years, 5 were enough for you. You are special!”
Maldini first welcomed him, then protected him, accompanied him and advised him until Hernandez became one of the best left backs in the world. That’s why many people claim that Maldini’s farewell to Milan, with all the bitterness of the case, was a sort of point of no return for Theo.
The former Real Madrid man has been unrecognisable this season and now both he and his idol are waiting to understand what the future holds for them. It is conceivable that Maldini would reconsider the possibility of returning to the Rossoneri in a different situation, and obviously with a different management.
Theo has more pressing needs in terms of time. From now until June – regardless of Milan’s position – he will have to be clear about what he wants to do with his footballing career, given that his deal runs out in 2026.
BREAKING: Two old friends have coffee…
Dejan10, Why don’t you go back sucking co*k of Jerry? Or they don’t pay you anymore?
His performance plunged since Maldini left. You can tell he brought calmess and reassurance to the rest of the players as well. The team seemed more nervous and predisposed to meltdowns when Furliani took the reigns.
Before Maldini, Milan was.
During Maldini, Milan was.
Beyond Maldini, Milan will still be Milan.
If he plays for Maldini and not for the badge, he better leaves.
Milan, hired Maldini, and Maldini brought him in, Milan is bigger than any individual or family name.
If the great Berlusconi can end an era with Milan, who else deserves such loyalty?
Having Maldini around helped them. He won everything you could win in the sport. That makes a difference to help player’s when they struggle and face tough tasks. They still play for the club, the fact is, they were better when he was here.
If you think Maldini had the ultimate influence in this team, I would rather respect your opinion as you’re definitely entitled to one.
But, I want to tell you, Milan became really bad when Pioli simply got figured out, he had no plan b, and to make matters worse, under Maldini, we let Kessie leave without a proper replacement, I was shouting then at the top of my voice that we need a destroyer or else, we aren’t going anywhere, it’s not rocket science, it’s basic football, but people like you were champions here mocking me. Today, that same problem is experienced by the great Manchester City since Rodri’s injury.
Milan’s case on the pitch has been a long term problem which predates and outdates Maldini as a Director. The only thing that has changed in this period is the club finances which are better.
If the Milan badge does not motivate anyone to play, they better leave to join Maldini FC.
Imagine saying because Galliani who brought Ibrahimovic in as a player in his first stint and was no longer there when we came to bring him back to Milan, he would then say he played for Galliani and not the badge.
Real men are made of steel, not of glass.
I really love Theo, but if this is his mindset, we can never progress as a team, flush him out immediately.
Who better to teach Theo how to defend as a left back? Maldini still love Milan, so why not? It’s free of charge, no coaching fee.
I’m sorry but weren’t Theo and Maldini together at Milan for 4 years?
Theo still can’t defend a parked car, so either Maldini isn’t a good teacher or Theo is unteachable.
Maldini isn’t doing anything free of charge.
Theo’s defensive performance was better when Maldini is still around. The game continues to evolve and I think Theo cannot adapt with it so he regress. He cannot find solution by himself so he need to look for advice.
Yeah I bet Theo had to pay for that coffee in return for some words of wisdom.
What does it even mean: “
“Milan will still be Milan”?
What is ‘Milan’?
If you take out the players, the legends, the history, and even the jersey (Belgium/Portugal jersey anyone?), what is Milan?
If you show no loyalty to anyone – players, legends, history – what is Milan?
Are you saying a Ferrari is any old banger with a badge on it?
Are you saying that it makes no difference where foods are from it’s just sustenance?
I’ve supported Milan even through periods where it struggled more than this shell of a thing is now.
I never jumped on the ‘banter era’ bandwagon or insulted players who struggled in impossible conditions.
But what is left to support now?
Gabbia (who is dropped every other game), Maignan, Tomori (who barely plays), Theo (who is on his way out) and Leao who is constantly insulted.
Maybe Pulisic can become a legend (but he has to win something first).
The rest are randomers who have mostly overseen the demise of the club, and who will mostly be gone in the next year or two to be replaced by more randomers.
“Milan certainly isn’t still Milan”.
It’s an empty shell of a brand.
Certainly, your Milan is an “empty shell of a brand”
But my Milan, the one I support, stands with everything the Milan badge stands for.
Milan is still Milan, the second most historic club in the world.
Milan is not Garry, Milan is not Furlani, Milan is not Italy, Milan is not Maldini.
Milan is Milan, the one Seedorf, Rijkaard, Gulit, Van Basten, Kaka, Cafu, Shevchenko, Rui Costa all played for.
Where is the Milan after maldini?
No player is bigger than the club true, but some players are the clubs foundation.
Maldini played a major role in putting Milan on the global map so yeah, he co-built the Milan we are basking in her glory now.
Where is the Milan after maldini?
Well, that question should have been: where was Milan under Maldini?
Milan under Maldini was the one who couldn’t match Rio Ave in the Champions League play-off and luckily qualified by penalty shootout. We also got lucky in the Champions League run until we met Inter and everyone knew Inter was going to knock us out. But the Milan after Maldini have been able to have some important results in the derby to the point where we now have a gut feeling that we can defeat Inter, it never used to be so under Maldini.
I mean, I feel bad because this conversation may sound like I’m discrediting Maldini for all that he is, but no. This is a very liberal opinion that Maldini can be a hero as a player and mediocre as a Director at thesame time.
For me, he hasn’t done anything spectacular as a Director to imply that he was the one-stop point to solve our sporting problems.
Milan is Milan, with or without Maldini.
Milan built Maldini as a man and as a footballer. Maldini’s father played here before him.
So it makes more sense to me that the name Milan should come first before Maldini, and not the other way round.
I don’t think any other club has as fanatic fans for ONE SINGLE PLAYER than Milan and its Maldini-hypers. Don’t get me wrong, I love Maldini and I’d be bold enough to say he might be the best defender to ever play this game. BUT. I’m not still buying the “Maldini IS Milan and without Maldini everything will forever be ruined”. And I say that with zero offense to the greatest defender ever.
Well so far the second comment is proving true is it not??
So far without Maldini or his visions the club is been actively ruined.
Who else at the management can say the have a working strategy or half the guts to do what Maldini did.
We Maldini hyper as you so call us might be fanatic, but there is record, evidence and precedent on ground to prove why such fanatiscm is.
Maldini did do great work with the little he had on ground, while fighting the powers that be as we can now see we’re the problem not him. Tho Noone believed him the but that beside the point. It’s very hard no to be a fanatic/hype man to the only one who cared about restoring the tradition that is Milan to its rightful state.
And yes Maldini made serious errors which I won’t cover up, prime one been Origi. That even then I could not fathom why he would do so.
But his track record for good far outstrips the bad. So yes Milan is actively been ruined without Maldini.
I for one I am happy he is no longer here, that they don’t scapegoat him for their incompetence and ineptitude.
Sorry for the typing errors.
“We Maldini hyper as you so call us might be fanatic”
Says it all buddy.
The real fanatics are the ones who love Milan and by extension love Maldini for all he’s worth and done for the club.
If you love Milan because of Maldini, then I think you cheer for the wrong club buddy.
You should be a “Maldini FC” fan.
Fanatic indeed!
Gosh!
How cute “buddy” you selectively missed everything about what I wrote about Maldini and settled on the Maldini hypers.
And to draw conclusion about me from that short write up about my love for Milan. Quite a literal mastermind.
Gosh I am in awe of your processing power.
Wait aren’t you the one that was part of the discrediting party of Maldini then. Believing he hadn’t achieved anything as a director. Even now you still peddle that story. Nothing changed I see.
And yes you are discrediting Maldini. There is nothing like it seems. It is as it is written.
Very funny individual Maldini fc
😂🤣😂 All sorts here.
Listen,
I will only credit Maldini achievements as a player, it goes without question.
But as a Sporting Director, he has been mediocre or hasn’t been any special. If you still fail to understand this, it’s on you.
If calling Maldini a mediocre SD is a discredit, then I give up.
Like every new role, one needs to learn the ropes, and being mediocre as a green horn in a completely new job with no experience isn’t particularly bad thing, unless you are immortal of course.
If you think Maldini is an astute SD, so be it.
No wonder I hear Real, Barcelona and Manchester City are all gunning for his signature.
Ciao buddy!
Theo needs to deal with the present. The guy is a divider with feminine passive aggressive energy. He’s wasting his fantastic talent.
Maldini was the world’s greatest defender, and leader.
Forza Milan
Bring Back Maldini. Of course this shirt is everything. But I think Milan need some legend like Maldini who is loyal to this shirt helping this club. He is truly milanisti, not this fu**in clowns Moncada, Furlani, Zlatan.
They talked a lot but only disaster result
I wish Maldini still in Milan…sigh.
So do I man.
So do I.
Sell him. We need fighter men in team, not some emotional lesbians that have to be encouraged to do THEIR JOB THEY ARE PAID FOR IN MILLIONS
Bring Maldini back!!
If we looked from the past, Maldini recruited player is more effective, n better than Milan’s recruit now. Maldini can select good player, most of them can perform right now, CDK at Atlanta, Kerkez at Bournmoth, Tonali at newcastle, Kalulu at juve, at Milan maignan, leao, what ever milan trio sometimes up and down everything is progress become great player and nothing instant, the players need minutes playing, n so much change coach they need addaptation with new coach strategy ir philosophy, if Milan want great player will need so much costs transfer n we all know Milan didn’t have so much money for transfer cost.
Hello Delon,
Signing players have never been the problem for Milan.
It is what we do with the other side of business that makes or mars a Sporting Director.
It is the ability in player sales that truly defines a good Sporting Director.
He brought in Kerkez only to let him leave cheaply for peanuts without any sell-on clause, today he’s worth 50m.
As for CDK, good player, but doesn’t suit our formation. Milan played 4-2-3-1 with Ibra and Giroud as ST, meaning CDK was brought in to compete with B. Diaz for AM when in fact CDK is a box player and that greatly affected him, an experienced Sporting Director wouldn’t have sanctioned that deal.
Same inexperience was made in the Hauge purchase. Hauge after owning Calabria when we played against them, instead of upgrading our RB position, we hurriedly purchased Hauge, we all knew how that went.
Thesame inexperience in signing Mandzukic.
To imagine that he let Paqueta to leave so we could develop B. Diaz is one of the biggest blunders I can think of right now, followed by letting Kessie leave without a proper replacement shows a great player who is a novice as a Sports Director.
An experienced Sports Director would have kept Donnarumma with sporting reasons, as it was clear he didn’t leave for financial reasons, the deal was almost thesame.
Imagine a Sporting Director letting Donnarumma and Kessie leave for free, when combined they could have generated at least 150m which would have gone a long way in building a formidable team if he knew what he was doing.
This management bought Gimenez, Walker, Pulisic.
Milan won competition to sign Gimenez which is a serious statement snatching one of Europe hottest strikers, under Maldini it never used to be so, in fact Marcus Thuram ditched us for Inter despite Maldini following him all through.
Walker, represents a shor-term solution for the RB position, in the past such kind of market opportunistic strategies was not our style, it was more of Inter-style approach.
Pulisic, well, needless to say anything about that transfer.
I’m not saying that the have the best Sporting Directors in the world, but doing the comparison with Maldini, I personally don’t see anything special which he has done, except that the ALMIGHTY ITALIAN.
And here he is you mean Maldini deliberately let all these people go.
No context like kerkez didn’t want to be anything but starter. Like CDK wasn’t mishandled by Pioli, like the Donna and kessie saga wasn’t caused by management not wanting to shell out to keep them, like Maldini did not fight the powers that be to spend more on targeted signings, but when he was fired, the budget suddenly jumped up.
Ooo my goodness. You mean Maldini did not spread everything out in his interview.
You did not see anything noteworthy he did. Scudetto, Milan most prized players now. No that is a low hanging fruit.
How about helping to build players.
😂🤣🤣😂Yea you are the one.
You were one of the Maldini detractors then, and no shocker you still are now.
Always typing nonsense with you. Next you might say he was actually just a seat filler. Like Maldini did not work miracles with peanuts he was given.
Even legends and professionals acknowledged Maldini did great work. But one off brand John the Baptist believe Maldini did nothing but been Italian. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️I swear fans like you deserve Redbird and it’s brand of milan
And he want even sporting director, he was technical director and yet still won best director the scudetto year.
Like where do they get you American Milan fans from.
Good God. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Nothing noteworthy Maldini did.
The brain power to peddle this prop. And one can still say this confidently after comparing Maldini era with post Maldini and everything he said and how they are coming true.
Nah it takes a certain kind of thick brained selective impaired judgment to be this blind.
CDK was mishandled by Pioli.
Question: who hired Pioli?
Look, Onana was sold as soon as they knew he will not renew his contract, that’s what experienced SD do.
The year Maldini won Director of the year, Pioli also won the manager of the year award, we all know what that means.
So Maldini hiring Pioli means he was automatically responsible for Pioli’s on field decisions 😂🤣🤣🤣 bro how do you reason and reach such conclusions.
At this point you are clearly grasping.
Let’s even break it down Maldini and Pioli took a barely functioning team to scudetto dream, even when Maldini knew they weren’t ready, went back to the UCL, and even went to the UCL semis.
And when Pioli reached his ceilings Maldini knew it was time to let him go but management thought it was easy to reach UCL semis, fired the man and left the coach dead in the water. But that’s beside the point.
How… 😂🤣🤣🤣
Like how. How does Pioli’s on field tactics and mismanagement of players of which
CDK, Adli, Daniel, Vranxk and even Gabbia and nearly Thiaw fall on Maldini.
Did you run out of material to discredit Maldini that you had to reach this far.
😂🤣🤣🤣😂 I can’t even.
This is beyond brain spark. You muricans be wild tho.
Even the Pioli came good for Milan. Same Pioli Maldini hired.
And then by your mental gymnastics when they gave talented players to Pioli and he fcjed up, the blame should fall on Maldini because he is the head coach right and he should intervene and jeorpadise the tactics; so he can be further demonized than he already was.
Stop being stupid man.
Do you think the SD’s job starts and ends with player deals?
Hell no.
I remember clamouring for Maldini and co to keep emotions aside and not extend Pioli’s contract, but fools like you came here bashing on me.
I remember saying, that decision would cost him his job and boy it did.
You mean a coach you hired “mishandled” your most expensive transfered player, got figured out by other coaches and was clear he needed to be fired, but instead the almighty SD extended his contract, should I blame my grandma for that?
Stop being daft and wake up to reality.
As a player, Maldini is a phenomenon.
As an SD, Maldini is mediocre at best at least for now.
Live with that Maldini fan boy!
And he was not even SD. He was once again Technical director.
And how has your Redbird management so far replaced effectively Tonali whom they sold. Inter sell smart like bayern with an effective replacement already on ground or on the way. This management just wings it.
Tell me if and if they had listened to Maldini, shelled out those few extra for Hakan, and Kessie and kept Tonali and made a few targeted signings as he wanted to take the club to the next level. Would we not be much better. They wasted much more on pointless signings 200+ millions more because they wanted to be cheap on wages. And yet Maldini is the problem.
The one with goals and visions and love for the club. The one who bleeds red and black and wants to take the club back to its rightful place and actually knew how, is the one with the problem.
You used inter as a yardstick. Inter is run with the point of making sporting as well as financial goals.
Your Milan is run with sporting goals as a backup and not the foremost. Same thing Maldini was fighting against
You don’t even know what to bring against Maldini at this point. You Maldini detractors rehashed the same story over and over again of how incompetent and bad Maldini was, that you not only miss vital points integral to the story, but you make up new ones.
And you don’t even know who was and is still responsible for Milan’s mire. And yet you claim to be a better fan.
That white horse of arrogance and holier than thou must be real high up. So high it distorts facts. 😂🤣😂🤣🤦♂️🤦♂️
I can’t even at this point. I will be watching you tho. You definitely piqued my interest.