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Paolo Maldini today paid tribute to the Toon Army after admitting: “You took my breath away.”

The former AC Milan and Italy superstar tackled Steve Harper’s Newcastle United XI in front of a near full house at St James’ Park last night and admitted that he had been taken aback by the passion of the Geordie faithful.

Hundreds of fans waited patiently outside Milan’s city centre hotel yesterday for autographs and pictures with the Serie A greats.

And Maldini along with Franco Baresi, Zvonimir Boban, Mark van Bommel, Alessandro Costacurta and Gianluigi Lentini all played a huge part in raising thousands of pounds for the Sir Bobby Robson and Newcastle United foundations and Great North Children’s Hospital.

Maldini – who won the European Cup five times and Serie A seven times in a glittering career – told the Chronicle in an exclusive and rare interview: “It’s the first time I have ever played here and the fans are amazing. The stadium at Newcastle is always packed. You always enjoy playing at grounds like this.

“Newcastle United is such a big club and deserve to be at the top. I never got the chance to play against them in my career but heard so much about them. I loved the idea of playing here.”

Milan clashed with a star-studded Newcastle team that included Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand, Tino Asprilla and Nobby Solano for Harper’s big night.

And Maldini, playing in a team put together by Azzurri Management, admitted it was an honour to be involved, adding: “We always enjoy playing together. It is always an honour pulling on the AC Milan shirt. I’m not in a perfect shape! But I tried to do well for my team. We always try to enjoy ourselves.”

But he was thrilled to raise money for the trio of Tyneside charities and the man who made 647 appearances in Serie A for Milan, said: “The main thing was we raised some money for charity in Newcastle. That for me is the most important thing. That’s why we accepted the game. It was the main reason.”