Looks Like One More Year For Paolo Maldini
By: chris | May 14th, 2008
It’s been a rough week for the Milanisti, with their disastrous performance in Napoli having an equally disastrous effect on their Champions League hopes. Now sitting in 5th, they will pin their hopes on Torino, who, unfortunately, are not all that good, and must be very good to beat Fiorentina. Not helping matters is the report that Gennaro Gattuso, easily a fan fave, may have decided for a chance abroad while still hovering around his prime.
This may not ease all their sorrows, but it’s damn sure a big start: Paolo Maldini is basically saying he’ll return for one more go around and that the extension will be signed next week.
“In a week I’ll meet with Galliani to renew my contract.”
“My decision definitely does not depend on whether we play in the Champions League instead of the UEFA Cup.”
***
“Mostly [my decision] depends on my physical condition, which is better than at the start of last season.
“The players, directors and coaches have asked me outright if we could carry on for another year together, but above all the decision will come down to whether my desire to play football is still there.”
I don’t think there’s anything more painful than watching an icon hang on too long, and the peninsula got their full share of this two weeks ago watching Bobo Vieri, who’d seemed to have enjoyed something of a resurgence, suddenly have his career die before our very eyes against Rangers.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case with Maldini. The man has been absolutely phenomenal at times this year, and when healthy, is still one of the top defenders on the planet, even approaching 40.
Opposing attackers may not like it, but that’s too bad. And really, who doesn’t want to see some more of this?
Category: Serie A
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Comments
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ALE MI CAPITANO! PAOLO PER SEMPRE!
Yep, its been a pretty crappy week for Rossoneri, but I was simply elated when Maldini made this announcement. It isn’t just a joyous event for us, but for all of football. Brilliant man. His class, respect, talent (with those vintage Maldini tackles)…he is the god of football. Over at the Milan Offside, we were joking about a hilarious statement that Simic said, basically that if Maldini stayed, he would leave.
Um. Yeah. Hard choice there buddy, hard choice…
Now if Rino would just hurry his butt up and say he would stay, we could finally look to next year.
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United States
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If I were a Milan fan, I’d honestly look forward to the summer before thinking about next season. Your boys need some reinforcements desperately. And I hope you get them. Milan in UEFA is no fun.
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Maldini has found the fountain of youth and he’s keeping it all to himself. The man will still be playing for Milan long after my corpse has decomposed in the ground.
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long live the captain
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IMO, he needs to retire and reign in the new cycle. His future is in the backroom staff.
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IMO, you haven’t watched a single Milan match this season.
I don’t mean to be blunt (well, that’s a bit of a lie…), but really. He has been simply incredible at time this season (in the badass way). He can still run circles around wingers without a thought and still has those killer slide tackles. If His Royal Maldininess says he can play on, then he can play on. Paolo would never put himself above the team. In a time during a significant transition for Milan during this summer/ next year, we will need his leadership. Forza Paolo Per Sempre!
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Chris, I hope we do too. In the likely chance that we’re in the UEFA, we’ll make the most of it, do the restructuring we’re been needing for the last 2-3 seasons, and get back into the CL and challenge for the scudetto. I want to give Il Capitano an incredible season next year.
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man i love to see him hook his foot in around and slide!
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(i didnt think this worthy of being in the same comment block as the one above)
what song is that during the second half of the video?
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Maldini is simply THE icon of soccer/football/calcio! I’ve been to Milan twice and have a friend who works in management, so he has taken me and my one friend out to Milanello both times. On our second visit I had the extreme honor of meeting Paolino, and all I can say is I have never met a more friendly, humble man in my life! I was truly fearing the end of this season and the thought that he would be retiring! We may be in the EUFA Cup, which we’ve never won so let’s set our sights on that, but by the gods, we have Il Capitano!!
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