Maldini factor in the Milan transfer market: Tonali after Hernández

A bombardment, the right words and a signature. Quick, punctual, even in advance, as he has done throughout his career. Everyone remembers the closings of Paolo Maldini on the court, they were fast and elegant, they left you speechless for time and class. Executive Maldini is not much different from defender Maldini. The concept is simple: is there a young man to take? No problem: you assign a budget, talk to the person concerned and take them to Casa Milan. Without too many frills, word twists, or weird tactics. This was the case last year for Theo Hernández: Milan wanted the French side, leaving Real, and if Boban and Massara were going to speak with the white management, the former captain, who flew in person to Ibiza to convince him. Outcome? 20 million to Florentino Pérez and Hernández direct to Milan, a team in which he became one of the best full-backs in Serie A. The script has been repeated in recent days: Tonali has a long-standing verbal agreement with Inter, But the deal never materialized. Milan sniffs the opportunity, Maldini talks to Cellino and when he realizes that it can be done he calls Sandro, now at home waiting for the result of the swab. You want the past as a Rossoneri fan of the 2000 class, you want Paolo’s charisma, the conclusion seems the same as last year: Tonali in Milan, with all due respect to the other Nerazzurri suitors and cousins.

the Maldini method

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The importance of the former captain in the conclusion of these agreements is twofold: on the one hand, with all these young players brought to the Rossoneri, Maldini’s work guarantees Milan a solid technical foundation for the coming years. On the other hand, it guarantees Maldini himself a future in “his” team, something not so obvious in the past. The organizational chart of the Rossoneri management, in recent years, has been anything but granite: before Leonardo’s farewell in May 2019, just one year after his return (with Maldini himself assuming the position of director of the technical area) . Then the disagreements between Boban and Gazidis, which led to the Croatian’s dismissal last March. The next victim seemed to be Maldini himself, especially in the period when Ralf Rangnick’s arrival in the Rossoneri was almost certain and the former captain had unequivocally defined him as “not Milan.” Things change, however, and in football they also change very fast. Thus, some of Paolo’s movements have also convinced the higher echelons of the Rossoneri: Pioli-Giampaolo’s change of course has gone well, the arrival and confirmation of Ibra as well. Now, with Tonali to be defined, Bakayoko to be formalized and Brahim Diaz not far behind, Maldini leads the rossoneri market as the protagonist. Just as years ago he led the defense as the undisputed leader.