AC Milan technical area director, Paolo Maldini has granted an interview to the media during a Italian Association of Milan Clubs meeting. Here are his statements to the media, as relayed by MilaNews.it:
"I wanted to thank you for your commitment and the passion you put into promoting AC Milan. I think it's something that comes from the heart, something that I felt from an early age with my dad who played with these colors..."
On the transfer market window:
"We will do everything possible and it will not be a bombastic market, but if we need something we will intervene. Let's go forward with confidence until the end of the year, we will do the math at the end."
The renewal of Bennacer, Leao Theo:
"First of all, the three players you nominated have a contract expiring in 2024. So naturally as for the others, Donnarumma, Kessie, Calhanoglu, we started in due time, but it's not always easy to find an agreement in a negotiation. Theo's is very well underway as well as Ismael's, and we're talking to Rafa Leao. The intention is to renew shortly with all three. Of course they are players who have given a lotup to date, even though they are still young, and we think they can give a lot in our near future."
Who surprised you the most last season?
"The player who probably showed a totally different face from last year is Tonali. He is a 2000 class, he came with a loan so with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. He arrived after the Covid-19, a somewhat particular season, he did not do very well immediately but we had glimpsed enormous qualities in this boy, who is also a super Milan player. This doesn't hurt either. In our opinion he is the player who made the strongest improvement."
Maldini on the new stadium:
"You can't even imagine how close my family is to San Siro. If we want to keep up with the most important European clubs we have to think about a different future, and a lot goes through the new project. It will be a fantastic stadium, which will certainly see us among the first in Europe because it is a modern stadium, which will give us the opportunity to be competitive. It will also be an experience for the fans who will go to see the matches, as San Siro has been for many years. I believe that the future can only pass through a new project. This is absolutely necessary."
