Mike Maignan has reportedly rejected AC Milan’s first contract renewal offer, demanding a much higher salary than what was put on the table. As things stand, therefore, the situation remains very complicated.
Maignan has been one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A, if not the best, since he joined Milan back in 2021 to replace Gigio Donnarumma. This season, however, he’s been responsible for a few howlers and his future has been heavily debated among the fans.
As reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, Milan recently presented a contract renewal offer worth €5m per year, which would put him on par with Rafael Leao. However, the goalkeeper – whose contract will expire in 2026 – has made it clear through his entourage that he wants €8m per year.
The first offer, therefore, was rejected and the situation remains complicated indeed. Milan would like to reach a conclusion in the summer or, at the latest, just after. Arriving in the summer of 2025 without a renewal, meanwhile, would be a disaster as Maignan would then just have one year left.
It should be pointed out that the negotiations are still at an early stage, and there is indeed time to find a compromise. However, a sale can never be ruled out in these high-level operations.
We either start paying comparable salaries which are relevant to the market or we keep losing our players. Leao, Theo, then they rest. In the theatre of ridiculous football world, mime is not being that unreasonable, he’s one of the best keepers in the world, you either give him parity to other too keepers or lose him.
And before people want to take that stand, it’s useful to remember that on this trajectory and strategy this club will continue to stagnate. We should be adding to a nd building around Theo, Mike, Rafa, our strategy each summer should be to improve, not to have to replace outgoing talent.
I’ll sit patiently and wait for the fans of ‘moneyball’ also known as ‘race to the bottom’
That dollar amount isn’t obscene for Mike. The problem coming is the agencies on top of that. If we offer 8m and the agent wants a reasonable fee I say pull the trigger. Dude has many years left in him.
Theo is also a player who needs more money as we know he wants to stay. But we have to pay him.
Leao I am torn. If we can get 150m for him, that money will fill all the gaps we have and a great replacement. Our core is good.
My worry is that Leao has just lost focus and direction. He played well last weekend but nobody was attacking the space where he was passing and crossing ,I’d love to see Rafa under a new coach, I mean Klopp would be amazing but not gonna happen.
De Ketelaere has flourished in Bergamo this season under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini, amassing nine goals and seven assists in 27 appearances between Serie A, the Europa League and Coppa Italia.he need to be sack honestly
All because CDK is a small team player? Brilliant logic. Just brilliant. Oh and most of his goals aren’t in league even for Atalanta.
Milan isn’t Atalanta. This team has a lot more pressure. Dude got outplayed by Messias.
Leao needed two seasons before he started justifying his 29.5 million pricetag. He was worse than Niang in his first season. But you experts analyzed CdK is a small team player after one season in completely new environment and league. Ok.
Exactly@Ted. 💯. It’s hilarious ppl want to hate on CDK because they need a justification to hate and blame Maldini for last season. Embarrassing
Are you dumb? Let’s sign Dybala and play him as a striker for Milan… It won’t work will it? so it’s Pioli’s fault again? CDK simply does not fit Pioli’s system, he’s a second striker and Milan do not have that position in their formation. So if Maldini was so adamant on signing CDK he should have fired Pioli first. He didn’t do that. Now you expect Pioli to change his entire system which has worked for three years just for one player? It’s still Maldini’s mistake for signing him, as he is a player who clearly does not fit Milan’s system.
Agreed @Drew. But that is the issue. Redbirds ultimate goal is to make PROFIT. That doesn’t equate always to WINNING TITLES. Most often it does not. So we will continue tosell off our best talent each season and replace them with younger cheaper alternatives. Just enough to stay competitive for top 4 UCL spot – but never enough to win titles consistently. Let’s face it nobody expected us to win the Scudetto that year. When it happened instead of building a stronger team we were given a 35M transfer budget. Says it all right there. Mike, Leao, Theo, Tomori Thiaw will all be sold over the next 2-3 seasons and replaced with younger talent that we hope we can resell down the road for profit. And the cycle continues – just like the ATALANTA model.
Here we go again… Always the same bullshit every 1 or 2 years. Bad timing for Mike that he doesn’t play that good this season for the figures he ask but I still agree with him that he ask these figures tbf
Here we go again! Let’s see what happens but we always have this bs every 1/2 years. Altough Mike isn’t in the best form right now I still understand why he asks for these figures. We will see what the club wants to be, a team who builds around the top names are replace the top names every 1/2 years. Our cousins renew Martinez and Nicolo Barella because they probably know they deserve the money they ask for and they can’t find a replacement with the same quality for that amount of money. Let’s see what Cardinale does
100%….
Moneyball doesn’t work that way mate, it’s always sell the asset and make up for it in the aggregate, so you search for statistics of players who can match those of the high asset for less money..
There’s only one huge problem with that. It doesn’t factor in big game mentality and performance under pressure.
Take Seedorf as an example. There would have been cheaper midfielders around with similar stats, but look at his ability to turn it on and perform on the biggest of nights and the most high pressured of situations…football can’t be done like that. Stats only play a small part in this game.
Realistically we don’t have anyone on the team that is a true leader. Theo and leao aren’t leaders. Tomori might be however he seems quiet. Mike, not sure. We need an Ibra like guy to get everyone excited and afraid to let down.
Yeah you’re right. The issue is that Milan aren’t the club to young players that it was to Zlatan. As daft as it sounds it’s going to be a Gabbia. A player who knows the and loves the club for what it stands for. He’s been so impressive since his return. He goes in hard, not afraid to slide. I like Calabria but don’t think he’s that type of captain. Bennacer is the one that jumps out at me really from the players we have or perhaps Tomori like you say
I had the derby of February 2004 on the other day on Youtube while I was doing some mundane work, where we were down 2-0 at the half, and came back to win 3-2. Seedorf scored the winning goal with one of his usual rockets from outside the box in the 85th minute. What memories. What a season that was too.
Good times. Seedorf always stepped up to the plate. Under money ball you never get him, you go for a lesser player who may have the stats but lot on the big occasion. Just no look through that team, Kaka’s break out season, Pirlo, Seedorf, Sheva, Pippo, Rui…..so much talent
I think I’d take Vikash Dhorasoo now as well 😁
The 2004-05 team was even better. We added Stam and Crespo. Such a shame we lost that CL final. It still gives me heart burn. Next season it will be 20 years…
De Ketelaere has flourished in Bergamo this season under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini, amassing nine goals and seven assists in 27 appearances between Serie A, the Europa League and Coppa Italia.
Asking a lot for a keeper that misses months at a time due to injuries every season. I would put something in the contract that states he must play a certain number of games in order to get the full 8 mil. Seems fair to both sides.
Yep, thats the best contact for him
Sell him and cash in now before its too late.
Sell this summer.
Value over replacement.
Donnarumma asked for 12 mil and instead of selling him, Maldini negotiated with him until he left for free.
Milan turns around and signs Maignan, who makes 3 mil a year.
One gk asks for 12 mil, you sign a new GK for 3, and you have the same value and then some for a quarter of the cost.
Sell Maignan for 60 nil buy Di Gregorio for 15-20 mil.
Instead of paying Maignan 8mil you can sign Di Gregorio for 2-3 mil a year, and you get the same value for the quarter or the 3rd of the cost.
This is without taking into consideration the constant Maignan injuries.
Sell him this summer. His sale will also allow you to strengthen the rest of the team.
100%. Mike is a better goalkeeper, but Di Gregorio is good enough to where it won’t be a huge decrease. Juan Musso will also be available on the cheap with a year left and now behind Carnessechi, but he’s older than both Mika and Di Gregorio.
De Ketelaere has flourished in Bergamo this season under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini, amassing nine goals and seven assists in 27 appearances between Serie A, the Europa League and Coppa Italia.
I agreed with you di gregorio is great goalkeeper
Sell, sell, sell!
There are lots of goalkeepers better than Mike right now.
It would be a huge mistake for Milan to give him a big contract and have him play like stool the way he has been.
Swap with PSG for Donnarumma + 20M!
Donnarumma lower his salary to 7M
8M is kinda crazy. That will make him 3rd highest paid GK worldwide. And if Dusan leaves in the summer would make Mike highest payed PLAYER in Serie A. Unless Lautaro renewes, then the Argentine will edge Mike by 1-2M. A little crazy in my books.
I agree that Milan needs to start paying more addequate salaries, but what Mike is asking is not normal market valuation. It is very much on the high end. For contrast Ederson recently renewed and is making 3,5 M …
I’m not saying we shouldn’t pay it. Mike’s a leader and a pilar of the team. I think he’s slightly overrated by Milan fans as to where he stands in the world ranking of keepers, but still he provides a lot of value to the team.
The question people should be asking is not whether we should pay Mike or not, but rather woud we prefer to keep Mike or to downgrade GK and get Zirkzee (for example).
The budget isn’t limitless and our squad still has many holes. Choices need to be made.
* i ment Osimhen not Vlahovic
Mike is an excellent goalkeeper and probably asks Milan for the sum that another club has already offered through his manager ! I would like this team with a few exceptional individuals to remain as a basis for further reinforcement, but obviously we will not be able to please all the players! Of course, with that salary he’s asking for, he’d encourage other players to ask for similar raises, so I’m not sure he’ll be satisfied.
Sell for 60m, keep Leao, renew Theo, then add the Mike money to the “usua” 50m, plus the 40m we’ll have from selling CDK, Saladmaker and one or two other fringe players and we’re looking at 150m available to replace Mike, get that top striker we’ve been after, sign a CB, AND a CDM.
Di Gregorio – 20m (option: Musso – 8m)
Buongiorno – 30m (option: Scalvini – 50m)
Good CDM – 30-40m
Zirkzee – 40m (option: Sesko – 50m)
Depending on what combination of players arrive we could have from 0 to 62m left over, and a very good team with some money to spare.
Done and done.
Why a CB?
Even if Kjaer leaves and Caldara, we have plenty.
Tomori, Thiaw, Kalulu, Gabbia, Simic (Pellegrino)
It’s the 1 area we are ok
Well, let’s see. Scalvini would immediately become the no. 1 or no. 2 CB on that list. Buongiorno would be no. 3 CB, behind only Thiaw and Tomori. Kalulu hasn’t been the same player since the scudetto season, and he’s also useful as an RB, as we have Florenzi as a backup there. He might even be better then Calabria as a starter, not sure why Pioli hasn’t given him a real runout there, oh wait, maybe because we’re otherwise short at CB. Simic is still young and PELLEGRINO IS TRASH. I just tuned into the last 30 minutes of Salernitana v. Empoli and he 1. gave up the penalty for Empoli’s second goal, and 2. made a horrible pass that was intercepted and returned for Empoli’s third goal. If he’s this woefully prepared for Serie A at age 23, it’s unlikely he will ever be AC Milan quality. So of your list (Tomori, Thiaw, Kalulu, Gabbia, Simic (Pellegrino)), only two CB are truly AC Milan quality CBs at the moment (Tomori and Thiaw), with one maybe in the future (Simic) and two that are decent, but by no means the best we can do (Kalulu and Gabbia).
So you don’t rate Gabbia at all?
Kalulu is a big talent, had some ups and downs which is normal.
Thiaw and Tomori – excellent
Gabbia – has been outstanding
Simic – a huge prospect who has shown he is ready.
It’s utterly daft to waste precious funds on another CB who will sit on the bench
Pellegrino is 21 not 23
BUT, at the end of the day if we don’t get another CB, it won’t be the end of the world. Just saying, if we have the funds make a target signing of real talent, then go for it. Aside from obviously replacing Mike, my idea is three big signing, one in each department along the spine of the squad to take a leap forward.
De Ketelaere has flourished in Bergamo this season under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini, amassing nine goals and seven assists in 27 appearances between Serie A, the Europa League and Coppa Italia.. the coach need to be sack
Ok and? Spare us from these pointless kind of posts please, we already face too much information in our daily lives and your post is exactly what makes the overload even worse. Please restrain yourself from sharing this kind of repetitive content. Thank you.
The Sempremilan community
Not sure if it is okay to post links like this. This was eye opening https://www.givemesport.com/football-soccer-highest-paid-goalkeepers/#aaron-ramsdale-arsenal—pound-120-000-a-week
Onana is making $120k / week. Mike is asking simple math is $8m / 50 weeks $160k / week.
On its face that seems about right. Mike is a better shot stopper and distributor of the ball.
But when I look at the list and see Ramsdale there at $120k and not starting I think of Sommer this year for Inter.
Inter sold Onana and added Pavard and what an operation! Can we pull off the same? Sell Mike now, add a high quality 6 and see our goals conceded drop 25%? If so we are in the Scudetto hunt.
I love me some Mike and think he gets back to form soon. But in the long term his injury history is a bit scary and the possibilities to improve our overall defensive situation are intriguing when considered strategically.
We have to learn from our mistakes. If he not sign a new contract , next summer we must sell him and buy Di Gregorio from Monza and replace Mike . We must act cinical and eficient. Let’s not let ourselves be blackmailed and tricked by our players until the last year of their contract. We must act early and firmly. Do you want to stay with us in reasonable and sustainable terms? OK. Not ? Then we part as soon as possible without dragging things out unnecessarily.
No, not next summer, THIS summer. This summer he’s got 2 years left. Next summer is 1 year and at that point we’ve virtually talking about him walking. THIS SUMMER is the summer to decide Maignan (and Theo btw).
I think Mike is a great GK but 8m for him (+ bonuses) is too much.
While I would give Leao that salary, I would NOT give it to Mike. I don’t think his performances deserve such a huge increase and quite frankly his injuries are concerning.
The money would be better spent on a forward and a DM.
Extending Mike’s contract won’t improve the team at all and only serves to increase expenses. He’ll ask for a new contract with a higher salary in 2 years anyway. Sell.
I reckon I missed the part that Maignan is as good as the money he wants.
Maignan absolutely deserves 8mil a year. Hell, Bayern might even pay him 10mil. But he will absolutely not get that at Milan.
If we can get DiGregorio, I feel it would be a good capture in the event of Maignan sale.
What’s he worth? Tonali money? 80mil?
same s*it that was “reported” in october…
One of most deserving players in our Scudetto season and you say he’s not worth the money beacuse he hit a period of bad form. Ok.
So let’s sell off all “currently bad shape” players – Maignan, Theo, Reijnders, Leao, Chuk, Giroud. Thrown in also RLC, he’s quite inconsistent. Defense was also leaking with Tomori and Thiaw so I’d consider them too. Let’s revamp the squad again with the money and let’s see how that turnes out.
Furlani said it’s an industry right? So why the hell not.
Milan will hold up until this summer. They will watch closely about leao situation with PSG. If mbappe go to madrid, leao could be go to paris then maignan will have his request: 8m/year
Im afraid if he get 8m/year, he will be lazy on the pitch like leao. Leao with his new contract, he more lazy than he get on the pitch…