Paolo Maldini has claimed that he sent a comprehensive plan to the AC Milan management regarding transfer strategy moving forward but received no response.
Maldini’s exit was something that created headlines beyond Milano and Italy as he was sacked from his role as the technical director less than 48 hours after the final game of last season, with Ricky Massara also being relieved of his duties.
The reasons for the fall-out between Maldini and RedBird Capital were debated at length in the media and among fans, while there had been a six-month media silence about what happened, but that all ended today.
Maldini did an interview with La Repubblica in which he spoke at length about his exit from Milan at the end of last season, recalling conversations with owner Gerry Cardinale and his work up until that point. He revealed that he had concrete visions to move forward.
What was Cardinale asking for?
“To win the Champions League. I explained that a three-year plan was needed. From October to February I prepared it with Massara and a consultant friend of mine: 35 pages of sustainable strategy and the need for a leap in quality, sent to Gerry, two of his very close collaborators and the CEO Furlani.”
The answer?
“None. Out of 35 purchases we are challenged on De Ketelaere, who was 21 years old. If you choose kids of that age, the failure rate is higher. They must be waited for, helped, pampered, taken back.
“On the other hand, after three months of work, Boban and Massara and I were called to London by the owners and CEOs and practically delegitimised: the various Leao, Bennacer and Theo didn’t like it. But a path was needed. I always remember where we started from.”
They already had their own plan in line. They want to erase the imprint Maldini left and I am sure they will sell off the rest of the players from Maldini’s time in the coming seasons – Theo, Leao, Maignan, Bennacer.
They want start their new story, a new era. Well their story didn’t kick off quite well did it? That’s what you get for being arrogant prick without any football knowledge. Serves you sleezy snakes right.
What about last season’s 5th place finish with the likes of Saelemaekers and Krunic starting most games? No backup for Theo that season. Some people choose to hate on Maldini/Massara. Some people choose to hate on the ownership, for some reason made easier by the fact they’re American. I just don’t think there is one big bad guy here. Maldini and Massara were not perfect, Furlani and Moncada are not perfect. At least what we can take away from this is that Cardinale is ambitious, but he might still be learning that it takes something extra to win the CL (for any club). Bottom line is that we need to keep moving forward. We need to focus on finishing in the top 4, and doing our best in the EL if that’s where we end up. Then, address the holes in the summer.
What baffled me is that Furlani refuse to give Maldini respectable transfer budget so Maldini can only get the like of Saelemaekers/Messias but once he ousted Maldini, he immediately doubled the transfer budget and sign Pulisic (Maldini’s previous target). Seems like Furlani was intentionally sabotaging Maldini so he can get larger role.
Maldini wasn’t perfect at his job, but he did a very good job in what limited budget he had. How can they disrespect them like that, imagine working hard on that UCL planner just to get fired like that. I really envy Inter man, they have a figure like Beppe Marotta.
That’s because Maldini and Massara would waste that budget on players like De Ketelaere and Origi.
We have always had a plan to sign players under 30m and try to minimize our risk on the transfer market.
I still believe in this new management and the only change required now is to replace Pioli whose cycle at Milan has come to an end.
Next season with a new coach and some additional players we will be ready for the scudetto and to go further in the champions league.
TBF Origi and Messias had more impact than Jovic and Chukwueze. Also, read his words again regarding CDK. What baffles me is that you still believe Pioli is the only problem with the club?
Again, there is a bit of truth to everyone’s points. Origi was an object failure. So is Jovic, but Jovic was an emergency last minute thoughtless purchase. Origi was scouted and planned and they offered him 4m per season. CDK has been a disappointment, but we’ve have a full season to judge him and now he’s also fading at Atalanta. Chukwueze is just getting started, let’s give him the courtesy of a season for judgment for a fair comparison to CDK.
True about the budget. I guess this just speaks to management’s lack of trust in Maldini/Massara, which was their subjective judgment. They got fired and the budget increased. Also don’t forget that a good deal of that budget came from Tonali’s sale, which wouldn’t have happened had Maldini stayed. So take 65m (Tonali) from 130m (total spent) and you get 65m (budget without Tonali). 65m is only 15m more than the 50m Maldini had to spend in 2022. That may have equaled one striker and one right-winger (Berardi was quoted at 30m for example). We still would have had structural problems in the squad. Tonali then gets suspended and we would have been playing Krunic and Pobega at the double pivot four 4 months and without any backups because RLC, Reijnders and Musah don’t arrive, given that we’ve spent the money on let’s say Scamacca and Berardi. In terms of transfer strategy, there is no clear 100 correct answer.
According to Maldini 35 transfers and all we hear is of CDK who is young and has a high failure rate. Speaking of waste…how’s the $113m working out?
Are those the only players M/M brought in, or do you believe in CDK and Origi the ‘wastes” were vetoed by M/M only.
You should read Maldini’s interview on his happenings while he was at the club. It might help your perspective on some these transfers Milan made.
@IKWYDLS, you seem to have missed the part of my post discussing structural issues regardless of the budget. Maldini/Massara’s SUPPOSED targets would still have left holes. There are holes now. 130m or 65m, or 30m spent, it doesn’t seem to matter. The year we won the scudetto we were dead last in a CL group that was easier than the one this season. Clearly then, as now, we have issues competing on multiple fronts. This transcends regimes, if you will. Is it the players? Is it the medical staff? Is it Pioli? Is it Maldini? Is it Furlani? Is it Cardinale? It it none of them?
I’m not really trying to take a side here. Nobody has been perfect, I’m not sure anyone can be. The bottom line is this club is emerging from a period where we had no European football, were almost bankrupt, had a whole set of players that were not up standard, and whose commercial operations were not of a big club in 2023, and which has to deal with FFP for better or worse. These things are being addressed and it doesn’t happen in a couple of seasons, regardless of who is in charge. Anything that anyone MIGHT have done is purely speculative. We can speculate, of course, and we do, but let’s not then assume then that things definitely would have occurred in such a way. Of course we can judge the 2023 transfer market when the season is over, and we can assign “blame” then to the necessary parties and be at each other’s throats, but everyone has to be held to account, not just one set based on personal “feelings”. More importantly the club has to then make a decision as to how to move forward. If that means other players, another coach, or Furlani getting fired and someone else being brought in that is what it will be and always has been.
for every origi maldini had a leao,
CdK and Origi was approved by Furlani, read his interview.
FFP, why is this so hard for you people to understand?
It’s nof about FFP. Few days before Maldini was sacked, Furlani set small transfer budget. Few days after Maldini was sacked, Furlani set doubled transfer budget. That’s a clear slap in the face. Read the interview.
Exactly. Had Maldini had the budget of this season things would be much different.
We would’ve done everything to not let Tonali go, even for such a big offer.
We were never against selling one of our important players, but there really wasn’t the need for it.
To me not wanting to buy a player like Tonali (considered to be the best Italian talent at the time) says it all about the inexperience these owners and people like Scaroni and Furlani have about the game and players:
“We paid a fee that was a fifth of his actual value and we still had to have many heated discussions with the CEO and ownership.
Nobody wanted to buy him, not even the scouts.”
LOL – fkn comical
@Yelnats24 that was such a d!ck move. Apparently what’s not good for the goose isn’t for the gander. Im sure they hated the fact that we went to the Semis with the lack of resources given to Maldini as they progressively has less and less reason to fire him. Until ofc Foolani went to Clowndinale and talked about Maldini behind his back. That smug little fck
From the looks of it, Cardinale doesn’t know a thing about how to run a football or anything about the history of Milan. Maldini and Boban understood it but look what happened to them, their departure could be related to our CEO wanting to hold more power in the club, he calls himself a Milan fans and couldn’t even respect our best our player.
One thing for sure now, we all can say that Pioli has zero to no say in what players he wants in his team.
Boban is legitimately my favorite player ever. Never to be replaced. No one will replace Zoro and his drop kick of a police officer!
That man has passion which we are now lacking.
The likes of Saele/Messias had more impact than our 28 millions one trick pony Chuk. And we had cover for Theo in Ballo-Toure. This season we don’t have a playwr there at all.
You should read Maldini’s interview posted here earlier today. He gives facts in numbers.
I’m not a fan of the 5th place argument, since Juventus was cheating for years they obviously benefitted from it to finish above Milan. This team is repeatedly convicted of cheating and would have been kicked out if Serie A didn’t need its top clubs. But that’s an other story.
What scares me most now is that M&M did all the good job, according to Maldini, fighting with their own executives at every moment. The good decisions on the football side came from them. Now they’re gone and only remain the aforementioned executives. We can already see that the team has derailed, and if they maintain their stupid strategy, which seems to be the case, it could get worse.
Matter of fact, I dont even like the fact that Juve only got punished for 1 season for it. Because they’re benefitting each season from those inflated transfers not just last year. If for instance because of that they’re able to buy Vlahovic who they got because of malefesance then his impact is also on the team this season and for the duration of his contract.
FACTS! 💯💯💯💯 spot on.
Juve would NEVER had finished top 4 and qualified for UCL without fraudulently buying players like Chiesa and Vlahovic AND they are STILL benefiting from them and will make PROFIT from the when they are eventually sold.
One year suspension to get players like Vlahovic and Chiesa AND you get to keep them and all the future proceeds from their sale you also keep??? Those players sales, increase in merchandise and the TV ratings they bring, etc …are worth far more than one year exclusion from UCL.
I think their cheating in this case has had a marginal effect, and most of it revolved around the losses incurred around financing the unrealistic signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. 100M for the player, plus the massive salary. All figures that a Serie A team can’t afford, then there are the Vlahovic and Higuain transfers, which are also stretches for a Serie A club. But if you look closely Juventus wins because they have a system, and one that is built on always have top defenders. Look at Conte’s Juve sides. Look at the current team, playing with many young Italian players and even randos like Gatti. They barely spent money this summer and just trusted their academy and the young players they’d bought a few seasons back and they’re in second place. They’re ugly, but they win. This is their ethos. Win. That transcends specific transfers and directors. Perhaps it has to do with their choice of managers, Conte, Allegri, Sarri, all with track records of success. Pioli is still a wannabe compared to them.
Fode Ballo was Theo’s backup last year. This year there were none. It was supposed to be Bartesaghi but Pioli is too afraid to play him. Last year’s fifth place finish came with a UCL semi. That’s the flipside to that. The Legea were terrible in the way they handled Juve points deduction. And choices were made as such
@vero Ok I didn’t see your second post and i see what youre saying. According to Maldini the budget doubled to what he saw net of Tonali sale so that means around 20-25mil. Those structural issues were there for a long time. We needed a RW. But remember the budget in Maldini’s time was far less than now. We have 400m in revenue and about the same in costs (but also around 70m in “consulting” expenses which to me is the most eye popping). We’d have gotten Berardi most likely but yea we’d still be out some. We’d have Thuram and Kamada as freebies though. So that alleviates some positions. And likely there would have been loans. Gabbia, Fode kept etc.
One bleeds red and black, the other American green. Each makes mistakes. Which would you choose?
One of Maldinis biggest accomplishments if he had stayed this year would have been sacking Pioli.
Saelemakers, Messias, and Krunic made more goals than Chuk. Let that sink into your brain.
All the anti ownership nerds trying to convince us the squad was better with Saelemaekers and Messias in the squad? You guys are clueless, last year CL semi was luck of the draw exclusively, Conte didn’t even show up for the round of 16!. Last time I checked 3rd is better than 5th. And it’s been a month and a half of injury crisis. Ironically it’s not the players you said it would be Ted. You guys just pull criticisms out your butt. Maldini was talking about signing older players like Messias. In what world did Maldini think he could land Messi. They didn’t even return his calls. Hmm maybe if he had a clue and not put his eggs in that basket he would’ve been able sell a player or two and buy a proper vet?
Oh, do you even know the player Maldini wanted to bring, or are you just trying to be clueless here?
Probably the clueless part. Definitely the clueless part.
Okafor is out, Pellegrino is out, RLC and Chuk just came back from injury. Pulisic was already on the side line last month and being overused he’s on good way to be there again.
But what’s your point? You can howl and look for excuses as much as you like but Maldini gave facts with numbers. Go read again.
Now that you are all out of excuses and baseless arguments I believe it’s time you start insulting us. That’s what you revolving door fans do best. Don’t worry I won’t reply. Maldini already did it for us.
Typical Cardinale fart-sniffer.
Even with all Maldini has said with facts given, you still hang on to this narrative you have of his time here.
Sometimes nothing more can truly be said.
If I remember correctly, Milan were linked with pulisic, chukwueze, okafor, reijnders, RLC when Maldini was still the sporting director. It shows the planning to strengthen the attack and midfield for this season was already ongoing before M&M were sacked. The only thing left to for Moncada and Furlani was to execute the plan, which they managed with the sale of Tonali. The only difference was Maldini had no intention of selling Tonali so not all of the above would have arrived if Maldini is still director. However, Maldini’s long term plan was to gradually strengthen Milan without selling our best players and weakening the team in the process. Unfortunately, people nowadays lack the patience and vision which resulted in the sacking of Maldini.
Sorry pal but this is an ignorant comment. Actually we are statistically better off with Salesmakers and Messias if you look at the numbers thus far – and I am not a Sales or Messias fan at all as starters. Also we haven’t finished 3rd yet – season ain’t over. Maldini was talking about signing a player like Berardi for our RW. Who would argue with that expect you I guess. You also didn’t read what he said – we didnt need to sell to “buy a proper vet”. We could have kept Tonali and purchased a player like Berardi and strengthened other areas.
Sad with all this Maldini bashing. All he did was help bring us from the trash bin to Scudetto winners, 3 consecutive UCL appearances and a UCL semi finals and cut the wage bill and signed core talented player’s (Leao, Mike Thiago, Benny, Tonali Theo Tomori etc…) that increase our values over 500M – all with a comical low yearly transfer budget AND you wanna bash the guy??? LOLOLOLOLO. PATHETIC buddy. Be thankful he brought us to where we are today and pray Furlani and co don’t muck it up
And now, I’ll never look at Scaroni, Furlani, and even Moncada the sama again.
So they didn’t say anything about his plan but yet used elements of his plan smh.
“After our departure, the budget even doubled, net of the sale of Tonali, and the salary amount is finally in line with our plan: it must have become a source of inspiration!””
LMAO 😂😂😂 wow. Nice one Foolani and Moncrapa. Maldini also wanted investments into squad as much as these two, yet ppl still vilify him for the exact same thing (not to mention the increase in the wage budget).
Common IKWYDLS, if people don’t hold onto the erroneous beliefs they have and constantly feed it. They lose their grasp on situations even when presented with cold hard logic/facts. 😁
After all after all’s said and done, Maldini was the real villain and the current management the heroic avengers who will lead Milan out of this mire.
I can’t even take this serious anymore 🤣😂🤣
Man this has been a day and a half! I wish I had half of Maldini’s humility tbh. He took time off so as not to respond with his gut and now unleashed everything in a thoughtful logical manner
If this season has proven anything for people who still think players like CDK and Origi underperformed because they aren’t really that good, then they are not watching how Piolo is failing this season, even worse than last season.
Pioli can’t manage a competitive squad, he doesn’t know how to…and this season is proving exactly that…he can’t rotate players, he doesn’t know how to and lacks the tactical knowledge to do so.
We can’t believe that playing two midfielders as defenders in two crucial games within 3 weeks, when you have other defenders available is a some kind of tactical advantage or the ability of the midfielders.
Rathet, it’s evidence of his limited tactical abilities and squad management.
Any coach, regardless of the quality of players is able to conjure a win and at worst a draw if they study how Pioli’s Milan play. It’s, predicable and makes it easy for other coaches to have a winning game plan.
If Pioli have Halaand …. Mbappe and Jude Bellingham he will still underperformed as a coach. What Milan need is to get rid of Pioli.
Cardinale, Furlani, and Scaroni are a fkin joke.
“What was Cardinale asking for?
– To win the Champions League.”
I’ll just leave this here for the “Cardinale only cares about money”-guys.
Champions league is money and that murican c*nt has big loan with huge interests to pay off, not to mention return on investment for investors that gave him money to buy AC Milan. Capitano gave him three year, 35 page business plan on how to achieve that. No response. Says a lot about the owner and his professionalism.
Everything revolves around money in first place. Even more for these yankee doodles.
Moreover he didn’t spend a dime of his own money in this mercato, all was from earnings. Foolani said so in his interview.
“Moreover he didn’t spend a dime of his own money in this mercato, all was from earnings.”
It seems you’re still living in the past. No owner in the world does that anymore. Those days are gone. Step into the 2020s.
Remember last time Milan used money they didn’t have? Li etc. Well… Remember how Milan was banned from Europe? I guess not.