Sky journalist shares positive update on Maignan: “A smile he didn’t have before’

A Sky journalist has shared a more optimistic outlook on Mike Maignan’s future, amid talk that his AC Milan exit is a mere matter of time.

The reports that have been circulating regarding Maignan’s contract situation have been rather bleak. His contract expires at the end of the season, while negotiations over a renewal do not seem to be moving anywhere, even if there is talk of one last attempt to convince him to stay.

In fact, this morning’s edition of Tuttosport even stated that Milan will be watching Zion Suzuki of Parma up close during Saturday night’s game at the Stadio Ennio Tardini. The management are looking out for potential replacements for the Frenchman, which perhaps tells its own story.

A smile appears

Sky’s Peppe Di Stefano spoke about Maignan in an interview on the Milan Hello YouTube channel and the picture that he painted was not all doom and gloom, contrary to the reports circulating.

“Maignan was all set to leave Milan in the past year, I know that was the intention, then two things happened: Chelsea didn’t make the right offer and Massimiliano Allegri intervened, he spoke with Maignan and there was an immediate connection between the parties,” he said (via MilanNews).

“I know they told each other to focus on the pitch, not on the contract or on the fact that the deal is expiring, they’re moving forward well. From what I understand, there are no particular open discussions, also because the boy evidently didn’t like Milan’s behaviour last year.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

“They offered him a certain amount of money on the contract and after a few months and a few too many mistakes, the amount, from what I understand, was slightly modified. I think the boy is tough and rigid from that point of view.

“He’s not tough and rigid at Milanello, he’s regained a smile that he didn’t have before. Mike has been happy since this summer, he says hello, something he did less last year (laughs), he spends time with the fans, he spends time with the people, Milanello is a happy place again.

“And I’m not just talking about the players, I’m talking about the employees, the young people who perhaps don’t have a microphone to talk about it, the desire to work has returned. The desire to do that extra thing, that extra quarter of an hour of work, has returned.”