Mike Maignan’s decision to delete all his Instagram posts has caused some alarm among AC Milan fans, but not at Casa Milan.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the reason is simple: neither the player nor his entourage have called the club to announce their intention to leave, as Rafael Leao did for example. Therefore, there is no question surrounding the future of the French goalkeeper.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Moreover, Maignan is considered crucial by both Gerry Cardinale and the new manager Ruben Amorim. For the coach, the former PSG and Lille man remains the team’s captain and an undisputed point of reference in the dressing room.
Maignan going nowhere
He renewed his contract until 2031 at the end of last January and is coming off a strong season in terms of personal performance. Clearly, he’s also disappointed by the Rossoneri’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, and the expected redemption at the World Cup.
Perhaps this is why he’s decided to delete all the photos he had: perhaps he wanted to wipe the slate clean and start over. Or perhaps he’s considering a new communication strategy, like his international teammate Michael Olise in the run-up to the World Cup (though this seems unlikely).
There’s certainly no mad rush at Milan to find a new goalkeeper to replace Maignan. The player, as previously mentioned, hasn’t expressed any desire to change clubs. Even if he were to do so in the coming days, Milan consider him a key part of their project.
Cardinale isn’t selling what he believes to be the team’s strengths, and he won’t let himself be cornered. Perhaps only with a super offer would he negotiate, but nothing is a given, because Milan’s goal this year is to win. When Maignan is focused and well-coached, he guarantees points.
