Nesta explains why Maldini will return to Milan: “He could go to any club, but he doesn’t”

Alessandro Nesta believes that Paolo Maldini will return to AC Milan one day, and that he will not join another club in the meantime.

Milan brought Maldini back to the club to work under Leonardo originally, and then alongside Zvonimir Boban and Ricky Massara, becoming the technical director in charge of the recruitment.

It culminated in the 2021-22 Scudetto win and a run to the final four of the Champions League the next season, but then things took a bit of an unexpected turn as he was sacked by Gerry Cardinale.

The former captain has said very little about exactly what went wrong leading to his departure, though he is yet to return to work with another club and many believe he is waiting for the right moment to go back to the Rossoneri.

Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

‘It will happen’

Nesta was a guest on Gianluca Gazzoli’s podcast ‘Passa dal BSMT’ and he spoke at length about his time at Milan in what was a beautiful interview that we translated in full. As part of it, he was asked about if he thinks Maldini could return.

“For me, yes. Do you know why? Because for me it will happen. Paolo doesn’t say it now, I say it. For me, Paolo Maldini can go to Paris Saint-Germain, he could go to any club, but he doesn’t and he stays at home, because for him it’s Milan or nothing,” he said.

“That’s how I see it: for me, he’s made to be at Milan, Milan is made to be with him. Then life changes, the owners change, that is, they make different choices, but I believe that sooner or later the love will return.”