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AC Milan confirm controversial decision on Paolo Maldini

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The club legend is sacked amid reports of “power struggle” at San Siro.

Paolo Maldini leaves AC Milan after his reported sacking by club owner Gerry Cardinale.

On Monday, reports emerged of a brief meeting between Maldini and Cardinale. The club owner reportedly informed Maldini of his decision to sack both him and director Ricky Massara.

The pair were in charge of Milan’s recruitment plans in recent seasons. However, it seems that their desire to secure more transfer funds for the club has cost them their job.

“AC Milan announces that Paolo Maldini concludes his role at the Club, effective as of June 5, 2023,” a club statement reads.

“We thank him for his years of service in the role, contributing to the return to the Champions League and to winning the Scudetto in 2021/22.

“His day-to-day duties will be performed by a team working in close integration with the first team manager, ultimately reporting to the CEO.”

Maldini joined Milan as a director in 2018. The club legend was credited for his role in preparing the Rossoneri to claim the Serie A trophy in the 2021-22 season.

The long-awaited contract extension of Rafael Leao saw Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani leading the talks on behalf of the club. But that wasn’t the beginning of the power struggle between Maldin and Furlani.

Back in 2019, Maldini opposed Furlani’s decision to appoint Ralf Rangnick as the team’s manager, despite the latter’s approval from the former chief executive Ivan Gazidis. Former CFO Zvonimir Boban, who was also against signing Rangnick, was sacked a few months later.

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