AC Milan signed Mike Maignan to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma who left to PSG as a free agent. The French goalkeeper, formerly playing for Lille where he won the Ligue 1 title last season, presented himself to the Italian media in the press conference.
On Jean-Pierre Papin's words:
"I'm very proud of what he had to say about me. I thank him for his words of appreciation towards me. But, we won the title of Ligue 1 all together at Lille, as a team."
On his first days at Milanello:
"I immediately felt a great atmosphere, I was received very well. Here we work very seriously, Milan is a club of great history."
On his best qualities:
"My point of strength is the mental aspect. I'm always mentally present and focused. I will improve from a technical point of view here and I will do it throughout my whole career."
On the preparations for tomorrow's game:
"The preparation for tomorrow's match was intense, we trained well and I am ready to play the game."
On the differences between Ligue 1 and Serie A:
"There are many differences... However, I am here to work hard and learn in order to improve further."
On the transfer background before moving to AC Milan:
"It was a great emotion for me when Frederic Massara and Paolo Maldini contacted me. I was very happy with that. I was finishing a season, and I had to stay completely focused. However, I immediately said yes to a move to the Rossoneri."
On how the move to Milan will be beneficial to Maignan:
"Milan will help me a lot as I will try to help the club in return. The Serie A is a league of great professionals that will make me grow in my professional career."
On goalkeepers' coach at Milan, Dida:
"The first meeting with Dida is positive. He was a great goalkeeper, he will be able to give me a great hand to grow more. Last season there were excellent figures, but they are still the result of teamwork. Now I'm here to grow. With Dida, I can improve in all levels thanks to his experience."
On having several French-speaking teammates in the AC Milan squad:
"It's good that many teammates here speak the French language. However, I still want to learn the Italian language because we are in Italy."
Has the role of the goalkeeper changed in recent years?
"Football has changed and evolved, but perhaps the role of the goalkeeper is the one that has changed the least. Surely you play more with your feet now, but the main thing is that a goalkeeper has to do is defend the goal and avoid conceding goals."
On the negotiations to sign for Milan:
"How did the negotiations go? We talked. But, we had to wait for Gianluigi Donnarumma's decision. Then, I signed for Milan."
Do you feel the pressure to be Donnarumma's heir?
"Donnarumma contributed greatly to AC Milan's positive results. I am now starting my own story at this club, I will work very hard to do the same as him."
Were some other clubs also interested in you?
"There was also AS Roma who contacted me. However, I was already in talks with AC Milan by then and I chose to sign with the Rossoneri."
What are your goals for the new season:
"We are all here to win, everyone is participating in the championship to win the Scudetto. We will see how the season goes, it will take great concentration and the will to always work hard."
On if there are any similarities between coach Stefano Pioli and Lille's manager Christophe Galtier:
"It is difficult to make a comparison, but I can say that they are two great professionals who make their teams work with great intensit", concluded Mike Maignan.
