Exclusive, Maldini: ‘Here’s what I’d do if I were Donnarumma, Verratti should move to Barcelona’

AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini is still one of the most loved footballers for all the calcio fans out there, not only the rossoneri ones. Our editor-in-chief Stefano Agresti has interviewed one of the most iconic footballers in the history of the game to have his thoughts on the current situation of AC Milan and Italian football.



Mr. Maldini, AC Milan are signing several new players, what do you think of their transfer campaign?

“I think important steps forward have been made, let’s see how it carries on but for me it’s better not to talk too much about AC Milan.”



Is it due to your refusal to return to the club?

“Of course, many things have been said.”



​What would you do if you were Donnarumma now?

“I know since he was a child because he was playing alongside my son. Unfortunately he had two serious knee injuries and he had to quit football. When Donnarumma was 12 you could already tell he was not a common goalkeeper. He had anything you need from a shot-stopper: physical and technical skills as well as personality. Mihajlovic wanted to start him from the very first matchday of the 2014/15 campaign. People kept telling him not to rush because the guy was only 16 year-old. He waited for a couple of matches and then he’s started him.”



​Have you ever given him an advice?

“I’m crazy for him but I haven’t hanged around Milanello for quite a long now and I couldn’t tell him anything. I’d have told him to stay and not to be worried by anything. I’d tell him to be free to chose and decide to stay at AC Milan only if he is really convinced. He has lot of pressure on his shoulders, somebody is already treating him like a traitor, he’s not a traitor and I hope all this noise won’t have affect his performances because he’s only 18 year old.”



Who gave you the best advice on the day of your debut with AC Milan?

“I was lucky enough to have Liedholm as my manager. He told me to play and have fun and after that he asked me: “Do you want to play on the left or on the right?”. Everything was easy with him.”



​Have you ever been close to leaving AC Milan?

“Not when I was young. When a player leaves the club there must be three conditions: a club that want to sign a player, a club that want to sell him and a player who wants to leave. In my case the first condition was there, I don’t know if there was the second one as well but I never wanted to leave AC Milan.”



Donnarumma is one of the stars of the U21 Italy squad.

“This U21 squad is an amazing side, probably the best of the last 20 years. It’s full of talent and I think some of them, like Rugani and Berardi, have yet to show all their potential.”



Buffon said he’d like to become the coach of Italy one day..what do you think?

“(he smiles) I don’t know. Being the coach of a national team is not like being the manager of a club. He has also said that he won’t retire if he wins the Champions League. I expected it.”



How hard it is to leave football?

“It was pretty easy for me because I was feeling pain everybody in my body. I had been playing since I was 61. When I turned 41 I simply thought the right moment had come.”



Do you like this Italy side?

“It’s the beginning of something important, there are some amazing players that can still improve. They can beat Spain in September. If they won’t it may be very complicated to qualify through the play-off stage.”



Is there any Italian player you really admire?

“I think Verratti is extraordinary. I think he will improve if he leaves Paris. He would be perfect for Barcelona and Barcelona would be perfect for him.”

