No, not at all. I’ll simplify it.
Flashback: We won the scudetto last season, particularly thanks to a great six matches by leao who hit top form and was virtually unplayable near the end of the season.
What we should have done: Leao had suitors all over europe after his brilliant campaign, some concrete and others rumoured. Maldini and co. should’ve got on the phone with representatives from all of those clubs right after the last piece of confetti fell on Mapei stadium’s pitch and began increasing his peak value even more by making it seem as if a deal had been in place with other clubs for his signature.
we should’ve sold then sold leao to the highest bidder and that would’ve have unlocked some funds for the summer transfer window long before (months) redbird’s closing. Ideally, the funds would’ve been used to address every issue we had with our squad, from top to bottom. If CDK would’ve been purchased under those conditions, his transfer would not have been scrutinized as heavily.
Instead: he chose to wait and see if the new owners wanted him and what terms they would present to him to work under. Professionally, you can’t blame an employee for waiting to see what’s in store for them going forward but his brand is built on loving Milan so you can’t fault the fans to think he would’ve operated that way without a guarantee on his future. Gattuso chose to forego his payout due to his love for Milan and we are forever grateful to him for that. No one could blame him for taking what he earned but he chose to have that go towards improving Associazione Calcio Milan. Uomo vero.
Maldini chose to sit on his backside and used the €50m budget to renew messias, sign CDK and Thiaw and getting vranckx and dest on loan w/option. Objectively terrible mercato. Yet, you want us to sing Paul Maldini’s praises because of one scudetto after 4 seasons to learn on the job.
Mind you, Maldini and Boban were hired as basically paid interns with a full salary because of their connection with Milan. These weren’t seasoned experts we were hiring. Milanisti are entitled to reserve their judgement on the performance of club employees the same way Paul Maldini felt entitled to work for Milan in an administrative capacity while scrutinizing Adriano Galliani for his poor handling of the club and rightfully so. It’s our turn to peruse the execution of his duties. If there was a dereliction of duty, no one can prevent us from speaking out. Neither Gerry cardinale nor pilgrims to the shrine of Maldini. We will speak out when necessary.
