GdS: Allegri also at work to convince Maignan – his role in renewal negotiations

Massimiliano Allegri is playing a key role in the bid to convince Mike Maignan to renew his contract, according to a report.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, when asked directly about this idea a month and a half ago, Allegri flatly denied this: “It was absolutely not me who convinced Maignan to stay. It’s all thanks to Claudio Filippi, who is one of the best goalkeeping coaches around. And then the club, who really wanted to keep him.”

Yet, just as the new coach had actually played a crucial role in the Frenchman’s stay in the summer, it’s reasonable to assume some behind-the-scenes work has been done to at least reopen the dialogue, eliminating Maignan’s default response of ‘no’.

It will be nothing particularly insistent though, because a sensible coach talks to his players primarily about football, tactics, and motivation. Away from all of that, Max is somehow trying to facilitate a process that was and remains very difficult.

Allegri occupies a crucial position in this context because the goalkeeper’s dialogue with the management, quite simply, was no longer definable as such. It was frozen by Maignan after an initial offer from the club earlier in the year which was later revised downwards.

It’s worth remembering that he said yes to Chelsea in the summer. If it had been up to him alone, he’d be playing at Stamford Bridge now The deal fell through because the two clubs couldn’t reach an agreement on the player’s transfer fee, and then Allegri personally intervened.

Pact made

Maignan wearing the armband was a legacy Allegri inherited upon his arrival, and he was careful not to change it. Maignan has proudly retained his rank, making a sort of pact with the coach and the club: they will move forward together in the name of a common goal, with full professionalism.

This bond, knowing Mike’s professionalism, reassured Milan from a sporting standpoint. But at the same time, it was also a sort of tacit agreement regarding a seemingly inevitable free transfer. Then the Frenchman began working with Claudio Filippi, becoming more comfortable.

All of this led the former Lille man to say some interesting things last Wednesday: “This year we’re more of a team, more of a family, a group where life is good. Many things have changed; the coach and his staff have brought serenity.”

Photo by AC Milan

On Filippi, he added: “He’s very experienced, cool, and knows how to manage a group of goalkeepers. Working with people like that is much easier. I don’t want to make comparisons, but I feel really good about what he gives me in training, how he manages my character and my things. I’m happy, and I hope he continues like this throughout the season.”

They may seem like anything but empty phrases. Especially since Maignan isn’t one for pointless pleasantries. In short, while Tare remains understandably cautious, paradoxically it’s the goalkeeper himself who is more optimistic.

Milan, for their part, have returned to their original renewal proposal. The underlying feeling is that the situation remains very complex, but perhaps not as impossible as it was a few months ago. Meanwhile, Allegri is working, especially since January is approaching.