Paolo Maldini opened up about his life as technical director of Milan, looking back at their Scudetto success last season and his work in the transfer market.
The legendary former defender spent his entire playing career with the Rossoneri before returning in 2018 to work as a director for the club. Maldini is a key figure in their transfer market work, helping to identify talents and get deals across the line. Theo Hernandez highlighted the importance of Maldini’s work after his acquisition from Real Madrid in 2019.
Speaking at the Turin Sports Festival, Maldini first discussed how it felt to win the Scudetto last season whilst being Milan’s technical director.
“The first Scudetto as a director is important and different from the others. As a director I have had a fair amount of experience and the final victory is the seal that everyone dreams of one day putting on their career.
“It is an enormous satisfaction for the club and for our fans. I remember well my first days at Milan as a director. Leonardo taught me so much, professionally and humanly, to start this new adventure. In Reggio Emilia, the party in Piazza Duomo was a unique moment.”
The 54-year-old Italian then reacted to Ruud Gullit’s comments that his playing career gives him an advantage when talking to transfer targets.
“It’s true, I start from this advantage. Because I am also linked to this club, not only because of my personal history. Milan have a history that presents itself, it doesn’t even need to be told. These things combined can make all the difference in fact.
“That’s how it was with Theo Hernandez, although my first real purchase was Krunic. A deal I made on my own. For Theo I spoke first with Real Madrid and then with him, I spoke to him almost like a father to a son.
“But with my players I like to relate like that. I try to support them as boys first and then players.”
He touched on his relationship with fellow Milan director Frederic Massara.
“The partnership is successful with Massara. Although we started as a trio, Leonardo was also there. When he left Milan I asked to work with Boban. I was looking for a sporting director and many people spoke very highly of Massara.
“We knew each other on the pitch, as a footballer at Pescara he scored goals. I had an interview with him for the role of sporting director and I liked him very much.
“He is a great worker and football connoisseur, now we are a de facto couple because we live symbiotically a good part of our week.
“Kjaer, for example. He insisted a lot on taking him on loan from Atalanta because he knew him from his time at Palermo and Roma. He pushed hard to get him.”
Maldini revealed that he did expect to win the Scudetto last season.
“I was sure we would win the Scudetto last season, it was also an idea to pass on. It also happened to me as a player. With Ancelotti, for example, we spread the idea of winning the Champions League.
“Ditto with Zaccheroni the Scudetto. I’m a great dreamer and sometimes it’s the basis for achieving the maximum result. I was certain that there could be a chance to win the Scudetto, because I know what the team is worth.
“I said it at Christmas, before the winter market where we had no budget. At that time Inter took Gosens, Juventus Vlahovic. At that point a small budget came up but I said I didn’t want it because we were strong like that.
“We had Kjaer injured, Romagnoli out and Tomori not at the top but we decided to bet on Kalulu as centre-back. But everyone else was a star too. From Tatarusanu and my son Daniel in the goal against Spezia. The whole group was involved, Pioli was also very good here.”
Thats called a team work