One year later, Mike Maignan’s future is once again hanging in the balance. And once again, Chelsea are involved.
Last summer, the French goalkeeper had decided to stay at Milan, convinced by the new project entrusted to Massimiliano Allegri, but now his stay with the Rossoneri is no longer guaranteed.
The team’s collapse in results weighs heavily, as it has now seriously endangered qualification for next season’s Champions League, and there is also uncertainty surrounding the confirmation of the Italian coach. In this context, rumours about Maignan are resurfacing, despite the renewal that tied him to the 'Diavolo' until 30 June 2031, as pointed out via Calcio Mercato.
Maignan's doubts:
Maignan is affected by the uncertainty surrounding Milan’s current situation which, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, now risks losing him.
The French goalkeeper is observing the situation closely, and at the centre of his reflections are two conditions for staying with the Rossoneri: qualification for next season’s Champions League and the confirmation of Massimiliano Allegri. Not one of the two, but both are necessary for the former Lille goalkeeper to continue defending the Diavolo’s goal at San Siro.
When he signed the contract renewal, it is reported, Maignan was certain that Milan would finish in the top four of the league table. Now that certainty has disappeared, and failing to qualify for UEFA’s premier competition could convince him to seek a place among Europe’s elite elsewhere.
The Allegri factor:
Then there is Allegri, who, as highlighted by La Gazzetta, has become Maignan’s key reference point during these reflections about the future. The ex Juventus coach strongly pushed the goalkeeper to convince him to stay.
And the mission succeeded, because just when the Frenchman had said yes to Chelsea, Allegri stepped in. He explained to the club’s management the importance of rebuilding Milan around someone like Maignan in order to revive the team, and he also confirmed the captain’s armband for the player while proposing a winning project, which also included Claudio Filippi, the goalkeeping coach who immediately established a strong rapport with Maignan.
In this context, according to La Gazzetta, the English sirens are sounding once again.
Chelsea have never forgotten Maignan and have resumed enquiring about his situation, while waiting to see how Milan’s season ends.
There is one factor, however, that does not work in the Blues’ favour: the Premier League certainly has its appeal, but the London club will not take part in next season’s Champions League and even risk missing out on all European competitions altogether.
