Monday night was a magical one for the Maldini family.
Daniel made his debut for the national team against Israel in Udine, at the same stadium where his father Paolo (who was present in the stands for the Nations League match) had made his Serie A debut with Milan.
The third Maldini to wear the Azzurri jersey after his grandfather Cesare and his father Paolo, Daniel is also in the spotlight in the transfer market, as his impressive performances at Monza have fueled rumours of interest from Inter.
In an interview with TV12, an emotional Paolo Maldini expressed his feelings about watching his son's debut with Italy:
"My career began here in Udine as a professional; I always return with great pleasure. The emotions I felt were those of a father, which are much stronger than those from playing football" as relayed via Tuttoudinese.it.
Maldini then focused on Udinese, who will face Milan at San Siro on Saturday:
"I have always considered Udinese one of the most physical teams overall, and last year’s struggles surprised me a lot. I think they have reached a status where they can aim for more than just survival."
Finally, Maldini praised Udinese striker Lorenzo Lucca, who also made his debut for Italy:
"He’s a rare commodity, a striker of another era."
