Zlatan Ibrahimovic said, "Everything is under control." It won't be two contract renewals that will throw Milan off balance, however, wrote Il Corriere dello Sport this morning. Ahead of the season opener against Torino, Gerry Cardinale's right-hand man discussed the contract situations of the two key players in this squad, Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez, both crucial elements of a team that has only managed to secure a happy ending with Rafael Leao regarding renewals, at least for now.
Renewals for Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez will arrive...
Losing players of this caliber could be a double-edged sword for Milan, which has shown it can move forward and replace players over the years. However, we are talking about players of another level, followed by almost half of Europe and key players in Didier Deschamps' France team. In light of this, the French goalkeeper and left-back are asking for a significant salary increase, up to 7-8 million euros, an effort that Milan would be willing to make, but with the necessary calm, meaning once the market is closed, perhaps even in a week.
No rush for Milan...
The fact that Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan’s contracts expire with Milan in 2026 makes the negotiations for these renewals less urgent, but the Rossoneri management must not fall into the trap of letting too much time pass, especially since a bid from a big European club for both players is practically around the corner. However, there are grounds for optimism on both fronts. The salary issue with Maignan, which emerged in recent months, seems solvable, while in negotiations with Theo, the player's strong desire to remain with the Rossoneri for a long time could be decisive. There is thus optimism at Casa Milan regarding these two renewals, which would once again confirm the strength and financial stability of this 'new' Milan.
