Angry! AC Milan Fires Maldini
AC Milan has fired Maldini! This unbelievable event has actually happened. When AC Milan officially announced the departure of Maldini, the legendary captain whose number has been retired, the sporting director who brought a renaissance to the team, was shown the door, how many hearts were broken.
What does Maldini mean to Milan? Even if you are not a Milan fan, you know the weight this surname carries for Milan. The old Maldini was the captain of the Milan team that dominated Europe for the first time, and his son Paolo Maldini is one of the greatest legends in the history of Milan. During his playing career, Maldini played 902 matches for AC Milan, winning numerous honors including 7 Serie A titles and 5 Champions League titles.
It is because of that unparalleled loyalty and pure love that Milan retired the number 3 jersey that Maldini wore. It is because Maldini values the club's honor above everything else that he returned to the team during turbulent times and gradually led the team towards a renaissance. Over the past three years, Milan has transformed from a fallen giant without its soul into a rising force, and Maldini's shrewd signings have played a crucial role.
Leão, Theo, Tonali, Maignan... in Milan's current starting lineup, half of the team consists of players brought in by Maldini. However, the club, valuing last summer's less than ideal signings more than anything else, decided to part ways with Maldini by directly notifying him, a move that is difficult for Milan fans to accept. Such an action not only lacks respect for the greatest captain in the club's history but also directly takes away the soul of the Rossoneri, AC Milan.
In fact, if we delve deeper, the dismissal of Maldini by the Rossoneri Group seems more like a clash of philosophies. Operating European clubs with American capital has always been about taking the high-value route, aiming to balance the books and have "reasonable investment." But Maldini is different, he is a symbol of Milan, he loves AC Milan deeply, so he wants the team to return to its rightful place, which inevitably requires investment.
The difference in philosophy is the reason for the separation between Maldini and the Rossoneri Group, but the direct way of dismissal appears too cold and has deeply hurt the hearts of Milan fans. After years of accumulation, Maldini has already represented Milan to a certain extent, and in the eyes of some Rossoneri supporters, the surname Maldini is Milan. That is why on such a night, the entire Milan community becomes impassioned, as they cannot accept their faith being desecrated and their beloved captain being treated in such a way.
Maldini's departure has caused an earthquake in the public opinion arena, and the reputation of the Rossoneri Group has plummeted as a result. Their radical actions resemble a high-stakes gamble. If they cannot stabilize the situation and achieve results with the so-called mature new management team, it will undoubtedly extinguish the flame of rebirth that AC Milan has just gained. Even if AC Milan eventually succeeds, it will be difficult for the Rossoneri Group to regain the hearts of the fans. Even though modern football is a business, sentimentality is priceless, and how can a capital that tramples upon fans' beliefs gain a good reputation?