Leonardo states it 'hurts everyone' to not have Maldini at Milan: "Makes people believe"

"Ever since he left as a player, AC Milan have wanted Paolo Maldini back at the club. Since he left the second time, those wishes have grown in volume. For a player like Maldini, he will always have a home at Milan. The impact he had on the pitch is unwritable and those same players rarely have such an impact off of it too, but Maldini transcended those ideas."

"Indeed, under his guidance, the Rossoneri won the Scudetto in 2022 and reached a Champions League semi-final in the year after. However, he was still sacked by RedBird. A decision which went tragically at the time and has only gotten worse since. The reality is, without Maldini, Milan have gotten worse. So, the dream is that he returns to the club."

""The role of the sporting director has changed. Many teams no longer have a sporting director who has any influence. He does certain things, let's say the general work, but there's something very influential: algorithms, right?" "I have nothing against algorithms, but I've always thought they supported the decision-making process, not the other way around. This, in my opinion, is very important.""

""If you have Paolo Maldini at Milan, I don't know what algorithm can tell me it's better not to have him. How much does it hurt not to see him at Milan? But not me, it hurts everyone. Paolo is a figure who, in my opinion, should be in the world of football." "And it's not because I'm biased; I think such complete figures, because Paolo has matured over time, having successfully managed his team at the highest levels, where he spent 30 years of his life.""

AC Milan has long wanted Paolo Maldini back after his departure as a player and again after leaving a second time. His influence on the pitch is described as unmatched, and his impact off the pitch is portrayed as equally significant. Under his guidance, Milan won the Scudetto in 2022 and reached a Champions League semi-final the following year, yet he was later sacked by RedBird. Without Maldini, Milan is said to have gotten worse, creating a strong desire for his return. Leonardo calls for Maldini’s comeback, arguing that sporting director roles have changed and that algorithms should support decisions rather than replace judgment. He says no algorithm could justify keeping Maldini away and emphasizes the harm felt by everyone when he is not at Milan.

Read at SempreMilan