Where has the real Mike Maignan gone, the goalkeeper who was often decisive with his saves and brought so many points to Milan?
And does the Frenchman deserve a renewal worth 5 million euros net per year? This is the question posed this morning by Corriere della Sera, which analyzes the difficult season of the former Lille player, who has been unrecognizable for some time and is making too many mistakes—the latest coming on Saturday against Torino when he almost caused Thiaw’s own goal by kicking the ball straight at the German defender.
Renewal and farewell for Maignan?
The new contract until 2028 is on the table, and a verbal agreement between the parties has already been reached. However, his nightmare 2025 campaign has led to an inevitable and necessary reflection at Casa Milan. The feeling is that, in the end, the contract extension will still be signed, allowing Milan to potentially sell him in the summer for a significant fee—something that would be impossible with his current deal expiring in 2026. Those close to him describe a player who remains highly professional in training, almost obsessive in his preparation, but less mentally at ease than before. The frequent changes in goalkeeping coaches in recent years and recurring physical issues have certainly not helped the 29-year-old shotstopper, who is no longer as decisive as he was, for instance, during the Scudetto-winning season.
Besides Maignan, what about Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao?
But for how much could Milan sell him? If two years ago his valuation was around 80 million euros, today it has more than halved. Once considered untouchable, the goalkeeper is no longer off-limits, and at Milan, they are now open to offers. And it’s not just about him—the same applies to other stars like Theo Hernández and Rafael Leão, who are also far from their performances of previous seasons.
While the left-back’s fate seems already written, the final three months of the season will be decisive for both the goalkeeper and the forward. Without Champions League qualification—worth 60 million euros—it could be goodbye.
