Paolo Maldini was planning a revolution at Milan before his dismissal, wanting the club to replace coach Stefano Pioli with Andrea Pirlo, Corriere dello Sport reports.
The 54-year-old technical director was dismissed by owner Gerry Cardinale on Monday following a short but tense meeting, and his close collaborator Frederic Massara has also been shown the door, ending an important era at the Rossoneri.
Maldini and Massara played a crucial role in Milan’s return to the top of Italian football, bringing in important figures like Mike Maignan, Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez. The pair’s departures have now thrown the club into a state of chaos and caused tensions to brew amongst the players.
As reported by Corriere dello Sport, sources from within the Milan camp suggest that Maldini wanted the club to replace Pioli with his former teammate Pirlo, who recently left Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk.
Maldini’s dismissal has killed this idea and Pioli is now considered a central part of the RedBird project at the Rossoneri.