Paolo Maldini has revealed his impressions of new AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale so far and what the next phase of the project is for the club.
AC Milan clinched their first Scudetto in eleven years last season and the optimism is more evident than it has been for years. There is a two-fold challenge in the current campaign though as they not only want to repeat that success but they also want to assert themselves in the Champions League.
Maldini spoke on stage at the 2022 Sport Festival in Trento and he was asked about a number of different topics as part of the event, including being questioned on his thoughts regarding Cardinale whose fund RedBird Capital have now formally completed their takeover of Milan.
“When in doubt I told him my story (laughs). Those who come from a different continent and are used to seeing different sports: like going to lunch with a baseball legend. I told him about my story and my life,” he said (via MilanNews).
“Gerry is a person who has energy. He wants to do, and to listen. I like him very much. The idea that is conveyed is a kind of continuity compared to Elliott, they have taken this club that has been restored economically and which now should be able to climb back towards slightly bigger targets.”
Maldini was then pressed on what exactly these targets might be, given that the logical next step after a league win is to go further in Europe and perhaps in time build a side capable of winning the Champions League.
“Winning the Champions League? There is no promise, I can make the promise to you: that of not going beyond your economic limits. All this goes through a restructuring of all Italian football in general, the difference with English football is almost unbearable.
“The budget difference puts us in difficulty. We have other weapons, such as history and more ideas. The safe limit for the next few years is that of revenues/investments, we will not go beyond our possibilities.
“The desire, determination and ambitions are there. I want an ambitious team, we are Milan and history speaks for us. It is not a speech to be made only for Milan but for the whole of Serie A, our TV rights are worth too much little for what we are.”
