Boban: ‘Luckily Maldini stayed at Milan’

Former sporting director Zvonimir Boban said Paolo Maldini ‘had to stay to defend the culture’ of Milan. ‘Having him at the club, means having a real Milan heart that beats’.

Boban was fired following an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he openly accused CEO Ivan Gazidis of engaging in talks with Ralf Rangnick without informing him or fellow director Maldini.

The talks with Rangnick were later abandoned and Maldini stayed in his role as technical director at San Siro. Boban stressed Maldini’s presence at the club has played a big part in the recent success.

“At the time we told ourselves that someone had to stay to defend the team, the flag and the culture of Milan,” Boban told Sportweek. “Luckily Paolo stayed.

“He has grown a lot, now he’s a high-level manager. Having him at the club, like Baresi and Massaro, means having a real Milan heart that beats.”