Hope dies last, and at Milan, the door remains open for Mike Maignan’s contract renewal, especially after his recent top-level performances. The situation is still frozen for now, with no negotiations underway and the last contacts dating back to last summer. The club knows these could be the Frenchman’s final months as Milan’s captain, so it has begun to study the international transfer market closely.
Milan eyeing Noah Atubolu:
The mission looks complicated. Maignan is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and finding someone at his level is difficult. Milan wants a young, talented profile with room for growth. Elia Caprile from Cagliari has been monitored several times and remains a strong candidate, as does Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes. Zion Suzuki from Parma has dropped down the list due to his high cost and lack of progress. The new name on the list is Noah Atubolu from Freiburg, as relayed via Calcio Mercato.
Nagelsmann's choice:
Born in Freiburg on May 25, 2002, with Nigerian roots, Atubolu is a true product of the club’s youth academy. He stands 190 cm tall and weighs 78 kg. After three seasons with Freiburg’s second team in the third division, he earned the chance to defend the first team’s goal in the Bundesliga. Since the 2023/24 season, he has been the club’s starting goalkeeper and helped lead them to the Europa League Round of 16 last year.
Last season, he played a key role as Freiburg finished fifth in the Bundesliga, securing another Europa League spot. He impressed again this season, including in matches against Bologna during the League Phase. His strong performances earned him a first call-up to Germany’s senior national team under Julian Nagelsmann for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland.
With the Under-21s, Atubolu took part in the European Championship in Slovakia, reaching the final before losing to England after extra time. He played five of the six matches, including the quarterfinal against Nunziata’s Italy. He is an explosive goalkeeper and strong when coming off his line.
Battle with Inter:
Several top European clubs are moving for Atubolu, including Inter. His contract expires in 2027, a factor that might push Freiburg to consider a sale next summer. Milan wants updated scouting reports on the 2002-born keeper and plans to send a scout to Freiburg’s next home match against St. Pauli on Sunday. The German goalkeeper is represented by the same agency that manages Alexis Saelemaekers, a detail that could help Milan at this stage.
