Paolo Maldini could have owned part of AC Milan, the club which he loves so much, however, he denied the opportunity.
It is an occasional thing in football where people are offered stakes in clubs to forego some of their salary. Alternatively, it can be used as an incentive to keep them at the club. It is certainly not common, but it is not unheard of.
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It seems that Maldini was also offered this situation. A chance to own a stake in the club so close to his heart. However, it would seem that he rejected this deal.
Maldini rejected Milan stake
On X, Stefano Donati revealed that Gerry Cardinale had made an offer to the legendary defender, as MilanNews relays.
“We’ve read in the friendly press these days that Cardinale had offered Maldini a stake in AC Milan, which he refused, but Ibrahimovic didn’t, ergo, great Ibrahimovic… The issue needs to be explained carefully: Cardinale had offered Maldini stakes in AC Milan to pay part of his salary.
“Paolo refused because he saw a conflict of interest with the work he was supposed to be doing. Let me give you an example: do I spend to strengthen the team or do I think about my wallet and my stakes?
“This is yet another demonstration (not that it was needed) of the treasure AC Milan had with Maldini as manager: the good of the team comes first, always. Even at the cost of sacrificing his own financial interests, it’s nothing like a one-man show…”
It would appear that the same offer was made to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and this has actually been a part of why he couldn’t be fired from his role – due to him owning a part of RedBird – as Gazzetta dello Sport wrote, via Football Italia.
Considering the relationship, or lack thereof, between Maldini and Cardinale, who knows how different things would have been without that offer.
I mean Maldini is one of a kind, pure class of a human being. On and off field.
You guys getting it yet, why Maldini is the only one that can fix this situation? Cardinale either needs to change what he’s doing and let Maldini fix it or risk needing to sell a majority stake in the club before they complete the stadium. Really don’t see Maldini coming back so it’s probably going to be another banter era for Milan. Hopefully 2030 brings new owners and better management. The fact that my 8 year old nephew thinks Arsenal is a more successful club than Milan is a crime. I like Arsenal but hey, hey, hey, come on now.
What?
So Maldini was offered a stake at Milan, he refused, same offered was made to Zlatan, he accepted, but Zlatan owns part of RedBird.
How is it the same offer?
RedBird is an investment firm. They probably offered Maldini a stake at RedBird not Milan.
BTW, Fabregas has a stake at Como. Doesn’t look like its conflict of interest for him. Doing marvelous over there.
Looks like Fabregas’ offer and Ibra’s offer are of different natures. No wonder why they are showing opposite results in their works.
Fabregas is directly involved with Como as a coach.
Ibrahimovic is involved for publicity only.
That’s right, so do not even try to compare them in the first place. End of discussion.
Wasn’t the comparison between Fabregas stake at Como and supposed conflict of interest and Maldini’s stake at Milan/RedBird and that conflict of interest? Maldini was directly involved as the technical director just like Fabregas is as a coach. How did you manage to get confused in 5 minutes?
Fàbregas has a stake at Como, not at the current owner of Como.
What was offered to Maldini was a stake at RedBird, not AC Milan. RedBird =/= Milan. Maldini wasn’t going to have a stake at Milan, but owning a part of RedBird.
That’s what I said in my comment.
I just used Fabregas-Como comparison as an example that even if he was offered a stake at Milan, as the article says, it wouldn’t stop someone from doing their job and be successful. Same goes if he was offered a stake in RedBird. If you do good, the club does good and the owner does good. Its very simple. Maybe Paolo wasn’t so confident in his ability.
I don’t think it’s the same.
He was offered a stake at RedBird, making him primarely a RedBird employ/stake owner which means his priorities would automatically lie with RedBird. Now if RedBird’s interest and Milan’s interest would somehow be in conflict, as a stake owner in RedBird, he would have to choose the company he invested in.
Yes most likely if things go well for RedBird they will go well for Milan or vice versa, but that’s not always the case or not always guarantee.
Maldini is and always will be a Milan guy.
Or he wanted more money as having shares does not guarantee more money. I had an offer to take stakes on a company recently and lead it vs an offer with twice as much and still lead it, I chose more money now. Sure I can make more money in a long run but who cares.
So let me explain now, if that company was AC Milan I would take the shares and reduced salary as I care so much for Milan, and would be proud of the fact.
Fabregas is perfect example, no matter how much we want him over he stays.
If I care about Mikan, I stay and fight, besides it took two years to convince Maldini to join Milan and fight for the club we all love and you think he protects because of the badge.
Give me a break, he is with Fenerbasce
Gugliminpietro
Who cares what Fabregas has?You are evaluating someone’s personal decision based on what someone else did? You need to read some books, talk to some intelligent people, you are too stupid. Maybe it will help you.
Milanezi, we get it, you hate Maldini, the biggest legend in the history of the club, along with Baresi. All clear. But you’d suck Ibrahimovic the clowns cock. You’re of course morally right. 😀
Max, I love Maldini to death my friend and I always associated AC Milan to Maldini in my head, but that does not clutter my logic and rationale. I am C-Level corporate person and know exactly how these things work. While none of us will ever be able to piece together for sure what really happened there I choose Milan over any individual. Right now the situation is clear, there are some people that fight for it and others that is seen have given up.
As a fan I want Milan to be above Real Madrid yesterday, but we also need to be realistic, when good sound business and finance decissions are made and one creates a proper structure then results will come, and last.
At the end of the day we are all fans here that want the same, but perhaps we disagree on HOW
Cheers
Shows to me that Maldini had zero understanding of US mentality.
In US companies it is very common that the yearly bonus is paid out in company stock. Buying into the company you work at, having skin in the game is seen as extremely important.
A person with an American background might not see Maldini’s actions as having integrity but a someone who doesn’t really buy into the project and is just there to cash a paycheck.
Right. Wouldn’t having a skin in the game make you wanna work even harder to make sure the club succeeds? If the club succeeds, you profit on the pitch and financially.
He saw company that is not interested in winning!!!
But, he stayed with that same company that wasn’t interested in winning and was mad when he was fired from that same company? Yeah, thats gotta be it.
Yes and Maldini is mother Teresa, he does this for free, this is why he contemplated two years to join, u till they put him publicly in spot
Aren’t you the guy claiming to have insider info? 😂😂
Yep and you once said Maldini was a prima Donna
.so we already know you’re biased against him
It’s the love of the game that Americans will never understand!!! They only see the profit and nothing else matters!!!
I think that’s just a rich person thing…
What you will never understand is that you can do both.
Why would you? Why do you need to own a stake in Milan to do a good job? What is the point?
Sorry you do not need to be American to understand that, I am not and I do. Simoke math, here is the stake, show me some skin in the game and show me you mean it.
No he wants me to put billions and he goes acting like he owns it
😂😂😂😂😂😂 Ok loser. You forgot to say how you know more than us. 😂😂😂😂
Max, I see you ranomly call names. Not sure if you are 12 years old or have the brains of one. My advise is to maintan your level. If a person starts calling names and labeling in an argument he has nothing to back his position.
Cheers,
PS I do have insight information at what goes on in AC Milan and even more at Spurs, but I will leave it at that. I am not here to convince you or anyone for that matter. Good things are coming
What are are you talking about ? Maldini was being disrespectful for not buying a stake.
And what you’re saying is a stock bonus that’s given to someone not bought.
Now we know why Zlatan has been acting like an ass.. he’s got a stake in the club and wants to maximize his investments. It’s all about the money
too many paid buzzers here who glorifies the failure of jery, Z & other clowns. it’s no longer fans site it’s comedy circus which’s not funny
And what makes you think that you are not actually what you described, but believe you care more then the rest.
Maldini understands that Milan fans see him as the guardian of the club sporting identity. Accepting a small ownership stake under a management steering the club in a purely investment driven direction (which clashes with his vision) would have made him complicit with the fans in the event of failure.
Rejecting the “Moneyball” mentality Maldini publicly clashed with Geri Cardinale (head of Red Bird) due to their differing philosophies. Paolo Maldini decision to refuse a share of Milan stock is a “strong, principled stance” that demonstrates the triumph of sporting pride over financial and prestige temptations.
Maldini is astute enough to realize that the management wanted to offer him shares as a “local sedative for the fans” and as a legal cover for their austerity policies and haphazard technical approach. His refusal is a “death certificate” for the current sporting project from mu perspective a clear indication that the club is being run like a real estate investment company, not a European giant aspiring to glory.
This news perfectly explains why Milan is currently struggling with names like Pochettino and Iraola. The club fired the man who had the “sports compass” and is now trying to fly without a captain.
Yep, it is a clash of American corporate mentality and European/Italien love of the game.
As long as Cardinale runs a footballclub like a realestate object, without understanding the culture of an (Italian) footballclub, ACM will be in trouble.
You accurate on this.
i like with your assessment, always on point
As much as I love Maldini and what he brought off the field for us, this is becoming redundant. He won’t be back with this owner in place. He wanted to push the envelope and secure investments to add pieces to the team without getting rid of his better players. Which means the owner had to dig in his pocket and take risks to stay competitive.
We saw and will keep seeing what happened. That means no cash injections, not even within FFP parameters and continually weakening of the team.
Maldini asked they invest and treat the team with the respect it deserves. Now we have directors, coaches and even CEO’s refusing to join us so they can sign with teams who were considered lesser than ours.
This won’t change anytime soon.
Man you’re long winded get a life dude
Thats why zlatan would never been sacked coz he have the stake as part of his salary. Zlatan always dancing in the cake. Hehehe…
Comments section is full of people hating on Maldini for having some moral standards of his own. Amazing. You’re actual Milan fans and he’s not. 😀
I’ve read a lot of anti Maldini comments over the years and I’ve come to the conclusion that they are written by a bunch of mentally deranged American bots on a PR mission for RedBird.
No, most of them are Italian. Stupid people can’t even explain why are they doing it, it is some low iq spite against Maldini for being one of the best players to ever play for the club and then coming back to do something he never did and helped win the Scudetto after how many years? Horrible piece of sh*t, how could he? He isn’t a Milan fan, he did it all for the money. And similar stupidities. Stupid people are stupid, I don’t expect better from them. I still get surprised how stupid some are – Milanezi and Gugliminpietro are basically on every single article about Maldini, trying to trash him. Those 2 guys think they are the real Milan fans and you need to know “the truth” about Maldini. Every single time Maldini is mentioned those 2 are there😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Maldini är klass. Snackpåsen Zlatan och Gerry Anale är pajaser.
Dear Red and Black, you do not have to agree but based on the information and facts this is my take: Maldini’s refusal to take the stake wasn’t principle it was a lack of commitment. Cardinale literally offered him skin in the game, and he walked. If you truly believe in the project, you fight from the inside. Zlatan accepted, stayed, and is grinding it out even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s what a real Milan man does.
Cardinale is running a modern football club in 2026 data, structure, sustainability. Not every owner can be a blank-cheque oligarch. The Scudetto will be won under this ownership, I personally am sure of that.
Maldini got his feelings hurt and left. Zlatan stayed in the fire. Draw your own conclusions.
“Cardinale is running a modern football club in 2026 data, structure, sustainability”
Elliott was too (they posted a profit after many years under Gazidis and Maldini) but Cardinale’s Milan has been a failure on the sporting front. Fyi Maldini didn’t just leave, he was fired by Gerry… The one who really got his feelings hurt. He probably got hurt Maldini take his offer. Who fires a coach after a UCL semi but leaves everyone untouched after an 8th placed finish? Open your eyes bro