AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has been SACKED following a stormy meeting with owner Gerry Cardinale.
AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini is said to have been fired as the club’s technical director during a meeting with owner Gerry Cardinale on Monday.
Following the completion of the Serie A season on Sunday, Maldini and Milan’s director of football Ricky Massara met with RedBird head Cardinale to discuss future plans.
The meeting did not go well, with the two parties unable to reach an agreement on how to move the club forward after contentious negotiations, and Maldini and Massara have been sacked as a result.
Given his iconic reputation at the club, Maldini’s exit will be especially painful for Milan supporters.
Between 1984 and 2009, the defender spent 25 years with Milan, earning seven Serie A titles and five European Cups.
After retiring, he returned to the club in 2018 as a development director before becoming technical director the following year.
Maldini has brought in a number of players who have succeeded at Milan throughout his tenure, notably Rafael Leao and Fikayo Tomori.
Last year, the two helped the Rossoneri end an 11-year wait for the Scudetto by holding off bitter rivals Inter Milan on the last day.
When Maldini’s recruiting help Milan win, he got much praise. But the club’s business has been disappointing in the past year.
High-profile additions like as Divock Origi and Charles De Ketelaere have underperformed this season, as Stefano Pioli’s men finished fourth in Serie A, 20 points behind winners Napoli.
They made it to the semifinals of the Champions League, but Inter easily beat them over two legs.
Last week, the Italian giants persuaded Leao to sign a new long-term deal. But the Portuguese star may be contemplating his future.
Paolo Maldini departed with AC Milan
He posted a confusion emoji on Monday, hinting that he is unhappy with the club’s decision to release Maldini.
According to La Repubblica, several of Milan’s other big names are also sad over Maldini’s departure.
The report claims full reimbursement. Theo Hernandez may be thinking about his future, while goalie Mike Maignan may be hesitant to accept a contract extension.
This summer, as the Blues look to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga. As a result, the French goalkeeper is in link with a move to Chelsea.
On Sunday, veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic declared his retirement from football. On the other hand, Maldini’s dismissal caps a rollercoaster 24 hours for Milan.
