The tension between Paolo Maldini and the Milan owners may well yet again come down to a power struggle, the same that saw Zvonimir Boban leave after attempts to hire Ralf Rangnick.
This morning’s meeting at Casa Milan found the difference of vision between the technical director and new owner Gerry Cardinale.
There is a debate over transfer strategy and investment in the squad, but also suggestions that this is ultimately a power struggle, one that has been raging for several years now.
It goes back to the time in December 2019 that Milan chiefs Ivan Gazidis and Giorgio Furlani met with Rangnick to discuss him taking over from Stefano Pioli as the new coach.
Boban and Maldini openly stated this was done without informing them first, so Boban went public and it resulted in his dismissal in March 2020.
The attention and improving results, as well as the pandemic, prompted Milan to ultimately sour on Rangnick and give Pioli a new contract, leading to the Scudetto the next season.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, the problem remains that power struggle between Maldini and the business side of the club, as while Gazidis has moved on, Furlani remains.
Since Cardinale completed the takeover of the club with RedBird, Furlani has been made CEO and has increasing power within the group, connecting the new owners with old patrons Elliott Management.
While the Rangnick idea is long gone, the interests that prompted him to pursue the German in the first place remain and they are not in line with Maldini’s views.
Last time, the fans rushed to stand by Maldini and Pioli, putting pressure on Gazidis and Furlani to change tack. Will it happen again?