Maldini: ‘Only AC Milan for me, Gattuso to Italy a good idea’

Paolo Maldini admits he still ‘finds it difficult’ to talk about his beloved AC Milan, could never work for another Serie A club, but hails the ‘very good idea’ of Italy hiring Gennaro Gattuso as their coach.

The club legend spent his entire career with the Rossoneri, following in the footsteps of father Cesare, and with his own son Daniele coming through their youth academy.

He returned as a director, but was sacked in 2023 following a very public disagreement with the owners.

“I still find it difficult to talk about Milan, but I am happy that their current position in the Serie A table is better than in the recent past,” Maldini told Tuttomercatoweb at the Premio Viareggio Sport event.

The Derby della Madonnina is coming up on Sunday between Milan and their bitter rivals Inter.

“The derby is always a strange fixture, as we lost 6 or 7 in a row and then won the Scudetto, while once we started winning this fixture again, things didn’t go well overall. The derby has very little say on the success of a season.”

There were reports that Fiorentina had approached him to be their new director of sport when Daniele Pradè resigned.

“My cousin called and told me that, but I knew nothing about it. There is only one club for me in Italy, and that is how it always will be. In fact, I’ll add abroad as well,” replied Maldini.

When it comes to the Nazionale, Italian football is struggling badly, as the 4-1 defeat to Norway confirmed a World Cup play-off for the third edition in a row.

“I hope that Italy get to the World Cup, for the kids in a generation who never saw their team compete in the tournament, but also for Rino and all of us, we are all fans of the Nazionale.”

What did Maldini think in June when Luciano Spalletti was sacked and his old Milan teammate Gattuso appointed to the role of Italy coach?

“I thought it was a very good idea, because he encapsulates the spirit that the Nazionale always ought to have. As for the team, we’ve got to recognise that times have changed, I even saw Germany play against Luxembourg recently and it was Luxembourg who dominated for one half. We must realise that all the other national teams are evolving and we’ve got to keep up with them.”

Does Italy have a new Maldini to call upon and bolster their defence?

“Comparisons are never good for anybody. I was compared to my father first, and then Antonio Cabrini, but this sort of thing never helps. Everyone needs to just be themselves.”