Baresi: “Even a tough guy like Maldini was moved by the great affection the fans showed him”

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan's honorary president, Franco Baresi, the legendary captain of the Rossoneri, spoke about the exit of Paolo Maldini among other things:

"The affection and gratitude towards Paolo will be forever. To the fans, who I imagine feel a bit bitter and lost at this moment, I say that we must always think about the well-being of the club and the organisation. Only if we stay united, starting from the team, which is the driving force of everything, we can achieve our goals. Together with everyone else involved in AC Milan, we will work in a single direction to reach the objectives we all desire. I ask the fans once again to show the maturity they have always shown in the past and to support the team with great passion because only together can we achieve great success."

Baresi, the goal is to be competitive in Italy and abroad, right?

"Yes, that is the objective. The ownership will work to strengthen the team because they are aware of the importance of managing a club like Milan to remain protagonists and competitive. We must not be prejudiced; we have to understand that the ownership has made a significant investment with the awareness of the value of this club. AC Milan is a great club with a great history, and as our president said, the ambitions do not change. We must give our maximum effort to continue the positive path of recent years."

Could Zlatan Ibrahimovic be the missing figure needed at Milanello to replace Paolo Maldini's presence?

"The team must be aware that it is the driving force of everything. Every player has the responsibility to wear this jersey, and the mindset should always be to give their best on the field. The club will certainly provide them with the best conditions to do so. Regarding the management after Maldini, the organization is already taking the necessary steps to ensure that the team works in a calm environment and focuses on the field. Ibrahimovic's presence, his personality, has certainly been important in recent years, but I don't know what he will do in the future. His departure has touched everyone, and even a tough guy like him was moved by the great, well-deserved affection that the Rossoneri fans have shown him."

Pioli can have a bigger role now at the club...

"I think Pioli has always had a calm dialogue with the club's management, always having the freedom to express his ideas on every occasion, even with Maldini and Massara. I believe this relationship will strengthen because Pioli knows the team's needs better than anyone, the players at his disposal, and where improvements are needed. He can be an added value."

On the transfer market window, Baresi had this comment to offer:

"To compete on multiple fronts, it's important to have a broader and higher quality squad, and I believe the club will act accordingly because the foundation for doing well in multiple competitions is there."