AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini slams the club’s owner as he claims there’s ‘no real respect for the team’s identity’ and hits out at ‘weak’ reasons for his sacking as technical director
- Paolo Maldini has suffered a blow at his former club AC Milan after being sacked in June
- The former technical director added that the reasons for his dismissal were 'weak'
- We expected perfection from the VAR, but we don't have it: listen to it It all starts
Paolo Maldini has spoken out for the first time since AC Milan fired him as technical director, claiming their reasons for sacking him were 'a bit weak' before urging executives 'respect the identity of the club'.
The club legend won three Champions League titles as a player with the Rossoneri during a 24-year career in which he made 901 appearances and scored 33 goals.
After hanging up his boots, the 55-year-old had taken on an executive role at Serie A before being appointed technical director in 2019. Despite this, his position has come under scrutiny over the past 18 months after several signings failed to materialise.
Mail Sport understands the former defender had a tense conversation with club owner Gerry Cardinale before he was sacked, with Maldini now opening up about those conversations in an interview with La Repubblica.
'Cardinale told me and [Ricky] Massara (former Milan sporting director) that we have been fired,” Maldini told the Italian newspaper. The Athletics.
Paolo Maldini has spoken out for the first time about AC Milan's decision to fire him as technical director
Milan owner Gerry Cardinal decided to fire the AC Milan legend earlier this summer
Maldini won three Champions Leagues with AC Milan during his legendary 24-year career
'I asked him why and he told me I had a bad relationship with it [the CEO Giorgio] Furlani. So I said, “Did I ever call you to complain about him?” I never did that.
'I've only had one conversation with him in a year [Cardinale] and received four messages. He said we had to trust each other. I trusted him. We all know how that went.'
He added: “I believe the decision to dismiss Massara and myself had been made many months earlier. And in retrospect, I am forced to reconsider the relationship with a number of people who worked with me and who certainly, I find it difficult to imagine otherwise, were already aware of that decision.'
Maldini also urged the club's executives to respect the Italian team's history.
“I said it that same day, before I left: today you are in charge, but please respect Milan's history.”
Milan reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2023, but were beaten 3-0 on aggregate by city rivals Inter.
But despite failing to reach the showpiece tournament, Malidini claimed their European cup tie had generated £60million for the football club and added that his side had exceeded what was expected of them.
His resignation came after he and Massara were also recognized for their achievements by winning the sporting director of the year award at the 2022 Globe Soccer Awards.
Maldini gave an insight into his former side's attempts to sign Argentine star Lionel Messi
Maldini (R) has suggested where his future could lie as he is open to a move to Saudi Arabia
Maldini has previously spoken about his attempts to lure Lionel Messi to the club and reaffirmed that his side had considered bringing the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner to Serie A.
He claimed it was a 'feasible operation' and 'worth it', but admitted they missed Paris Saint-Germain, who were the first to sign the Argentine star.
As for his next role, although he is co-owner at Miami FC, the Milan legend has outright ruled out a move to another Italian side, but did indicate he could be interested in a move to Saudi Arabia.
'For my work, the alternatives to Milan are very limited. I could never go to another Italian team, possibly I would only evaluate the offer of a high level foreign team. I like winning and building. [Saudi] Arabia could be a stimulating option, who knows.'