Maldini’s full interview: A message to Scaroni, the truth about Furlani, Cardinale, and more

Paolo Maldini granted a lengthy and interesting interview that is very well worth the read. Here is the full version, as published by La Repubblica this morning.

Why six months of silence after being fired from Milan on June 5th?

"I would have spoken off the cuff; time allows serenity. There are people passing through without a real respect for Milan's identity and history. And there are others tied to its ideals. It would be better to hold onto those."

Were you expecting the split?

"If the club was sold for 1.2 billion and the new ownership wants changes, they have the right. But people and roles should be respected. I had to reach an agreement for my rights. My love for Milan remains unconditional. As Cesare's son. As a former captain. As the father of Christian and Daniel. And as an executive in 5 fantastic years. Information isn’t directed towards the truth: those who say otherwise know they're lying to themselves. Fortunately, it seems the public isn’t easily swayed."

For Gerry Cardinale, you're an individualist...

"There's a confusion with the desire to be responsible for role-defined decisions. Daily confrontation is a blessing. A former top-level footballer is used to judgment every three days. As an executive, I've grown. In the first 6 months, I felt useless. Leonardo told me: you're just learning. It's not easy to interact with an American fund or a South African CEO."

Are you referring to the market? Maldini replied:

"It's far from the truth that Massara and I didn’t share objectives and strategies. I never had, nor wanted, signing power: not even for loans. Every purchase was approved by the CEO and ownership. We chose the players; sometimes the budget disappeared. Interference in sporting decisions, affecting financial balance, is normal. It's unjust to accuse us of not sharing. Many meetings were needed for Ibrahimovic."

Could Zlatan Ibrahimovic return now?

"I can suggest he'd logically observe and learn at first."

Can you recount that fateful day on June 5th, 2023?

"Cardinale told me that Massara and I were fired. I asked why, and he mentioned poor relations with CEO Furlani. I said to him: have I ever called you to complain about him? Never. There was also a joke about the lost semifinal with Inter, but the reasons seemed somewhat weak. The so-called assumptions, the seasonal objectives, were: assuming elimination from the Champions League, a round passed in the Europa League, and qualification for the subsequent Champions League. That semifinal brought in at least 70 million euros more in revenue and record sponsorship and ticketing. The approved balance sheet is for the 2022-23 fiscal year, with the targets more than met."

He added:

"In a year, I had only one conversation with him, plus 4 messages. He said we needed to trust each other. I did, and how it turned out is known. I believe the decision to fire us was made months earlier, and some knew. The contract, 2 years with a renewal option, was offered to me on June 30, 2022, at 10 pm: too unpopular to let us go after the championship."

What was Cardinale asking for?

"To win the Champions League. I explained that a three-year plan was needed. From October to February, I prepared it with Massara and a consultant who is a friend of mine: 35 pages of sustainable strategy and the need for a leap in quality, sent to Gerry, two of his very close collaborators, and CEO Furlani."

Did you get any answers for regarding that plan?

"None. Out of 35 acquisitions, they contest De Ketelaere, who was 21. If you choose guys of that age, the failure rate is higher. They need to be waited for, helped, nurtured, corrected. After three months of work, Boban, Massara, and I were called to London by the ownership and CEO and practically undermined: they didn’t even like Leao, Bennacer, and Theo. But a process was needed. I always remember where we started."

Can you summarise?

"In 2018-19: an aging and underperforming team, six years without Champions League, a squad worth about 200 million, wage bill of 150. In four years of restructuring with young talent: net market spend of 120 million, 30 per year and 15 per transfer window, squad value up to about 500, wages reduced to 120 and then for 3 years at 100, unable to renew with Çalhanoglu and Kessié. And at the end of last season: three consecutive Champions played, championship after 11 years, Champions League semifinal after 16, positive balance after 17. But when you're on the edge, one season is enough to ruin previous work."

What was the budget for 2023-24?

"In March, it hadn't been discussed yet, and you can't wait until June to plan the market. Then, four days before the firing, Furlani awkwardly informed me of a low budget: I acknowledged it. After our departure, the budget even doubled, net of Tonali's sale, and the wage bill is finally in line with our plan: it must have become a source of inspiration!"

Would you have sold Tonali?

"We would have done our best not to let him go. We were never completely against a significant sale, but there was no need. For Sandro, we spent a fifth of the public domain value and had to argue vehemently with the CEO and ownership: even the scouting department didn’t want him."

He added:

"The betting? A defeat... You can never do enough for the boys. Transfers and sales are just a small part of the job. The real work, with Leao, Hernandez, Bennacer, Maignan, Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori, and many others, was supporting their development."

Now it's all on Pioli's shoulders... Maldini replied:

"He should be thanked; he was crucial for the youngsters. But the coach is one of the loneliest figures in football. Giving him tasks beyond his role, without support, will only make him more isolated."

Did you want to replace him with Pirlo?

"My role involves frequent discussions. With Pioli, we were already planning for the next season. He had deserved an extension until 2025. And if there had been, as in the past, unity of intentions and visions with the club's objectives, I don’t see why we should have changed."

For Scaroni, without you, the team is united... Maldini replied:

"I'm bothered by how things are portrayed. Milan deserves a president who looks out solely for its interests and executives who don’t leave the team alone. He never asked if players and the team needed encouragement. I often saw him leave when opponents equalised or took the lead, maybe just to avoid traffic, but always there for the championship. I have a different concept of sharing and a group. I can say the same about the two CEOs, Gazidis and Furlani."

The algorithms?

"Not needed to acquire Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, and Chukwueze: just use the money a company that finally generates 400 million deserves. You can't compare the last four transfer windows with the last one; we had different resources. Sustainability? With Boban and Massara, it was stimulating to cut wages by 30%, renew the squad, and increase its value with a championship and 3 years of Champions, after 7 without."

The new stadium? Maldini commented:

"A point of contention. I couldn't put my face on a project for 55-60 thousand seats, mostly corporate. I fought for a larger stadium with some seats for the general public. Considering the average of over 70 thousand at San Siro, I was right."

Your idea?

"With a new San Siro, and more greenery, a potentially abandoned area would be revalued. Milan is influential in Europe. We should fear degradation, not the future. The great champions made the stadium iconic. But that's in the past; Milan has always looked to the future."

Confirm the Messi negotiation?

"After Barça, he was free, and based on projected earnings, it was worth it, with the growth decree. Leonardo explained that PSG was ahead, so it remained an idea."

And you as an executive in Saudi Arabia?

"Alternatives to Milan are limited: never another Italian, perhaps only a high-level foreigner. I like winning and building. Saudi Arabia? Who knows, it could be an idea."

Maldini, did your dynasty end on June 5th?

"I don’t know; a bond of 36 years is too strong and will remain forever: history can't be erased. I thank life and Milan. I see a new era represented, a Berlusconi 2. A review of the Italian history of the last 40 years, politically and entrepreneurially? I said it before my departure: today, you're in charge, but please respect Milan's history."