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It seems AC Milan can finally breathe as Mike Maignan is close to renewing his deal with the club, almost a year on from when negotiations broke down.
Around this time last year, Milan were on the verge of a renewal with Maignan. A deal that, from the outside, seemed quite simple. Rewarding a key player with an extended deal, even if there were doubts about his form.
However, things turned and the past year has been filled with worry about the Frenchman leaving the Rossoneri for nothing when this summer rolled around.
In a somewhat shocking turn of events, though, it now appears that he will be staying with the Diavolo.
Renewal soon?
The work of Massimiliano Allegri, Claudio Filippi and Igli Tare is said to have been key to the turnaround, and a deal has gone from extremely unlikely to a case of when. Today, Valentin Pauluzzi, a L’Equipe journalist, spoke to MilanNews about the deal and what unfolded behind the scenes.
There is talk of a renewal that will take place in February.
“We also have this information; the last agreement on commissions is missing before defining everything.”
What do you think of this renewal?
“A fair decision on the part of Milan. It’s true that Maignan has had ups and downs in recent seasons, but I’m sure the highs have made up for the lows. In the last two years, Mike has played many important games.
“We always tended to see the glass half empty, I remember races in which he was decisive. Remember that on the market, or in other teams, there are no such valid goalkeepers. He is a pillar of this Milan, we are talking about a charismatic guy.
“Also on his part, I think it’s the right choice, it’s a choice of continuity. With this renewal, you can be calm even in view of the World Cup. Rabiot went to play in the European Championship with an expiring deal, it wouldn’t have been a good situation.
“Maignan has been doing well, he has delayed the right, and now we are waiting for the officiality.”
Did he delay too much before getting to the white smoke?
“The mistake was made in the past, the renewal was supposed to come after his second season in Rossoneri, or during the third. There, he had already acquired a certain status, in addition to the performance on the field.
“When I looked at Milan’s salary, I always thought that his salary was too low compared to his qualities. It was a situation that had to be solved, already a few seasons ago. I’m not into the dynamics, but it’s a reasoning I’ve always done”.
Why was there this important rapprochement between the parties?
“The role of Allegri is very important. With a few exceptions, he has always been good at dealing with the key players of his teams. The stronger and also more cumbersome, in a way.
“Few speak ill of Allegri, among his former footballers. It’s not a coincidence. Maignan also found stability as a goalkeeper’s coach.
“In the first four seasons, he changed a lot; sometimes he didn’t change the coach, but the coach. I asked him a question about this, and he seemed almost relieved to talk about this topic. The relationship between the goalkeeper and his coach is fundamental, and he probably had never had one as good as Claudio Filippi.
“Probably the evolution of Maignan had a setback for this reason, too. It was him, with his qualities, but he couldn’t take the next step. What he has accomplished in recent months.”
Has there been any team that has raised the pressure on him in recent months?
“Many rumours came out between autumn and winter, rumours that have never been confirmed in France, such as the Juventus option. PSG kept an eye on him for the Donnarumma post, then they took Chevalier, who is struggling.”
Can Maignan become a Rossoneri icon?
“Milan has had great icons; there are people who have played ten seasons in Rossoneri and are not considered an icon. Milan is a team that, in its glorious history, has had many legends in all roles, perhaps less in that of the goalkeeper.
“Dida had ups and downs, Rossi was a good goalkeeper, then Cudicini and Abbiati. Maignan, in a few years, could be considered the strongest goalkeeper in the history of Milan, but this will have to be accompanied by trophies.
“You can hardly expect to enter the Hall of Fame without winning at least one international trophy. This is the weight of a story like that of Milan.”
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