Ruben Amorim has no plans to re-allocate the armband this summer, with Mike Maignan remaining important to his vision.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Maignan remains not only Milan’s starting goalkeeper but also the man destined to lead the team. The French goalkeeper is viewed as a cornerstone of the squad at every level, both for the present and the future.
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There have been no second thoughts or regrets following the contract extension through 2031 that was officially announced on January 31st. Cardinale knows it would be difficult to find another goalkeeper as reliable as Magic Mike.
This view is shared by the Portuguese coach, who made Maignan the first person he called upon officially taking the job. While it is standard practice for a new coach to start with the captain, Amorim’s choice was driven not merely by hierarchy, but above all by his high regard.
On Tuesday, Maignan received another message of support from the Rossoneri family: one from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. DAZN footage captured the moment the two crossed paths in the bowels of the Dallas stadium following the semi-final match against Spain.
The Swede remains an advisor to Cardinale and wanted to convey the club’s solidarity – to both Mike and Rabiot – during the difficult moment of missing out on the World Cup final.
Vacation and reflection
On Saturday, France will play the third-place play-off against England. Once that is done, Maignan and Rabiot will have three weeks of leave. Amorim awaits them at Milanello following the conclusion of the tour in Australia and Indonesia.
While overseas, both the goalkeeper and the midfielder carefully avoided discussing their futures. There were no questions about Milan or what lies ahead: their focus was entirely on France and the World Cup.
From Sunday onwards, however, both will need to shift their mindset towards the upcoming season and what awaits them under the new era at Milan. Both Mike and Adrien are highly regarded by Amorim, who considers them key starters for the squad.
They are tied to the club by long-term contracts (running until 2031 for the goalkeeper and 2028 for the midfielder), so there is little to discuss. Furthermore, Cardinale has no intention of parting ways with two of the players who delivered the best performances in the squad last season.
Any potential buyer would have to deal directly with Milan and certainly wouldn’t find a ‘for sale’ sign. Even though they will be the last to rejoin the group due to their World Cup commitments, they are considered vital assets both on and off the pitch.
Second star mission
Cardinale and Amorim are in tune with the ambitions of this season in which Milan must return to winning ways. Compared to 12 months ago, when the goal was to enter the top four, the bar has been raised.
The objective is to win the second star Scudetto, again to close the gap on Inter, who have risen to 21. Winning derbies is no longer enough for Cardinale. The trophies count more.
Since the American has only celebrated one – the 2025 Supercoppa Italiana – he hopes to add another to the trophy cabinet in the first ‘real’ season in which he personally leads the club.
With Maignan and Rabiot at the top, trying would be easier. This is why the French at Milan are ‘pampered’ by everyone.
if he wants to leave let him go, he cost Milan against como
Against Como?
Yeah, you are right.
In terms of delivery and consistency those 2 and Modric were head and shoulders above all the rest last season (allthough Rabiot having a setback the last 10 games or so was one of the reasons Milan dropped so many points)
They should be kept under all circumstances
The management understands that a goalkeeper with Maignan exceptional footwork and ability to build play from the back is a rare commodity in the modern market. Protecting him and establishing him as a leader safeguards his market value and closes the door on interested clubs (like Chelsea). By giving Maignan the armband, Cardinale places the burden of leadership and motivation within the dressing room on a player with natural charisma.
One of Amorim first actions after taking over was to call Maignan (and Rabiot) to confirm their importance. This reflects a shrewd approach to quickly build trust with the “old guard” and dressing room icons before the start of pre season training.
Amorim prefers a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 formation, a system that demands a goalkeeper adept at venturing out of his area and distributing the ball accurately Mainnan is the tactically perfect fit for this model. The decision by Amorim and Cardinale is a clear acknowledgment of Maignan irreplaceable value.