Mike Maignan expresses his joy and pride to join Milan, ‘one of the biggest clubs in the world with ambitions and projects for the future.’
The goalkeeper put pen to paper today on a five-year contract, completing his transfer from Ligue 1 champions Lille.
“I am very happy to join AC Milan,” he told the official club website.
“It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world with ambitions and projects for the future. I am very happy to bring what I have to this project.
“It’s been the best season of my career so far and this is a reward for having won the title in France. We won the league and being here is a reward for me.”
Maignan described some of his characteristics for the fans who might not know him yet, as he replaces Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“I like to play the ball at my feet, this has been very useful to me, as modern football requires goalkeepers to use their feet too.
“Magic Eagle is a nickname my teammates gave me, because they said I am the King of the birds. Saving penalties is instinctive, it’s a duel between the goalkeeper and the striker, and I don’t like to lose my duels.”
There are already some familiar faces at San Siro for Maignan, although he did clash with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the Swede’s PSG days.
“Rafael Leao is a prodigious talent. I was lucky enough to play with him at Lille and we meet again here. The same goes for Ibrahimovic, it’s always a pleasure to play with him.
“Many goalkeepers have inspired me, I studied many of them to develop my game. Number 16 is the number I started with and I like the way it sounds, MM16, so I think I’ll keep that to the end of my career.
“I can’t wait to experience the passion of the Rossoneri fans.”
“I can’t wait to experience the passion of the Rossoneri fans”
Mike’s first words as a new Rossonero“Non vedo l’ora di sentire la passione dei tifosi”
Le prime parole in rossonero di @mmseize #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/WZC5BdEwkV— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 27, 2021