The Rumour Commode XLI: Ragnarok

[Omer]

Damn. No wonder they sacked Maldini.

Personally I wouldn't sack Maldini, but that is bad business.

If the management was so shit, then how come Milan over the last 3 seasons has come 2nd place, 1st place, and 4th place in Serie A as well as making CL semis while going from huge losses to profitable for the 1st time in 10 years? So if Milan, did as well as the other big clubs in Serie A while spending much less on salaries, then either Milan management is just as good or all the top clubs have idiots working in their management!

If you own a company that's making big losses and doing shit and the new CEO completely turns it around makes it much better, increases the revenues and makes it profitable, then are you going to tell him but worker A, worker B and worker XYZ that you hired didn't do fuck all and you wasted too much money on them so you're performance as CEO is shit?! Do your care about the results the CEO makes more or how he does it? Because it seems some idiots on the forum are going more into tiny details rather than the overall results.

Personally I think the management fucked up with Origi but all the other cheap / free transfers and cheap loans of players are because they there wasn't money to buy 20-30 mil players instead. Do you think management would spend 2 mil to complete Messias signing if their was 20 mil to spend on a right winger?? Even for last year's mercato which was pretty bad, CDK value has maybe dropped 10-12 mil, while Thiaw has gone up by maybe 25-30 mil. So even this shit mercato is positive in purely money terms.

Some of these idiots on the forum don't even understand the concept that you can't register more than 17 non-serie A developed players for the CL and that there are "ways" around that!! They don't even understand simple ideas like amortization and think it's super "cheap" to sign a player for free and then pay him a 10-12 mil gross salary! What's to discuss when idiots don't even know the basic rules and concepts like home grown quotas, difference between net and gross salary, yearly squad cost....etc??

 

[Ryo]

Kind of off topic…
About Ndicka, seems he is about to represent Ivory Coast as is mother is Ivorian.
Never knew he had any ties to Ivory Coast. as he, logically, has his Cameroonian Father’s name.

Not quite off-topic.
If he represents an African country, does his status immediately become non-EU?

I'm trying to wrap my head around this because from what I can tell, Chukwueeze should be eligible for Spanish citizenship (and Nigeria allows dual/multi-Citizenship), so I wonder why he wouldn't obtain it to allow himself more opportunities to play for bigger clubs.

 

[Milan10]

I don't believe those rumors, at all. I saw a denial of them in MilanNews, even though Ordine and others have tried to say it was true.

The talk before Maldini got fired was that Maldini liked Italiano. That makes more sense to me. For various reasons in terms of play-style, fit, and cost.

The idea that Maldini would prefer Arnautovic over Thuram (for free lol), or Berardi over Chuk etc, is hilarious to me.

All the talk about Maldini wanting SMS, the wet dream of most (not me) has not been mentioned among the desires of Maldini. Fans would be like "wait, Maldini wanted SMS?" And they'd ask why doesn't management go for him, even if Maldini is gone?

Because all the rumors that people are gobbling up are designed to make Maldini look bad. Which is disgusting to me. Fire the man, fine, but don't tell me that Maldini was simultaneously obsessed with old players alone but the blame him for young players having a tough first year (CDK, Adli, etc) whilst conveniently forgetting who scouted and recommended them, ahem: Moncada.

Also, I'm waiting for the unearthed diamonds that required us to promote Moncada. Being linked to every high profile free agent like Thuram, Ndicka, and Tielemans isn't some earth shattering Moneyball play. Chuk scored goals against Real Madrid and became popular around the transfer market world, so again, I'm waiting for the unique Enzos and Muanis of the world.

And of course, we have the tactical maestro in Pioli, who I hope will all surprise us this season, genuinely.

Moncada supposedly tried to get us to sign Enzo and Muani last summer. Maldini wasn’t able to close either deal, agents in Enzo’s case and Muani chose Germany. What else do you expect Moncada to do?

We were early for Julian Alvarez again because of Moncada but couldn’t close that deal (probably due to money?)

You may have missed them, but rumors came out after Maldini was fired that he and Massara were very interested in SMS but that there was uncertainty if that was still the case with new management. Same rumors said the same of RLC, Arnautovic, and your boy Berardi.

The Pirlo link is probably BS, the rest of the rumors don’t seem disingenuous.

 

[Wild]

Puoli is a mediocre coach even my mom knows that ffs. But people like to have some kind of comfort.

In reality some AMERICAN dude just fired MAldini who won scudetto, played 1/2 of the CL and signed new contracts with ALL the players he bought making a world class base of the team that just needed 3/4 addings.

Then the media bs started on how Maldini hard to work with you fuckers need to keep your voice down and do what capitano says. Fucking Scaroni... wtf. And Pioli will develop someone lol.

Well see without Ibra and Maldini when things get tough who will be around to lift the team. Furlani midget? Moncada with laptop??

I stand still with Red Bird out!

 

[Omer]

Maldini was a great leadership figure to have at the club and was a MAJOR factor behind us winning the Scudetto and achieving multiple CL qualifications (more so than Pioli). However, he's a HORRIBLE money manager who accumulated far too much deadwood during his time so you can't really blame the bill payer for binning him. Unfortunately for us he's got too much of an ego to simply accept an ambassador role at the club like Zanetti at Inter (hopefully Ibra will though).

Anyway, I expect the following players to DEFINITELY depart this summer which will yield 62m to add to the rumoured 50m mercato budget (112m total). I could add a few more names such as Florenzi, Krunic, Salad etc but I'm trying to be realistic although I certainly hope they leave too. To put things in perspective, Moncada managed to buy Kalulu, Maignan, Leao, Tomori, Theo + Benny for roughly the same figure before!

Gabbia 3m fee + 1.5m wages
Rebic 3m fee + 4.6m wages
Origi 5m fee + 5.2m wages
Messias 2m fee + 2m wages
CDK 18m fee (plus resale %) + 2.9m wages
Dest 5m wages
Baka 4.6m wages
Ibra 1.9m wages
Vranckx 1.9m wages
Tata 1.6m wages

TOTAL 62M

So the 31 mil that you saved on wages automatically gets added to the transfer budget because the new players bought with that money aren't going to have similar wages and are going to play for free instead?? Wow, you're such a genius! They should fire Moncada and hire you instead!

 

[BaniCPT]

Who signed players that reduced squad wage bill while winning scudetto and qualifying for UCL that brought majority of revenue increase?

OH wow, like he didn't have people, experienced people, holding his hand.do you think Paulo signed all those players without collaboration with scouting(Moncada) I'm sure Maldini knew who kalulu, Alexis, Theo, Mike, Rafa were before the scouts heard of them.. Please use logic in understanding that without helping hands, Paulo caught on his own nonsense like he had the trust Galliani had from Berlusconi.. This is not That Milan anymore gents. Rub it out and relax.

 

[brk]

I agree. Waiting for revenues to catch up will take years. Sell the players that need to be sold as long as their replacements aren't a downgrade.

It’s extremely unromantic, but it’s good business.

 

[Wild]

I don't believe those rumors, at all. I saw a denial of them in MilanNews, even though Ordine and others have tried to say it was true.

The talk before Maldini got fired was that Maldini liked Italiano. That makes more sense to me. For various reasons in terms of play-style, fit, and cost.

The idea that Maldini would prefer Arnautovic over Thuram (for free lol), or Berardi over Chuk etc, is hilarious to me.

All the talk about Maldini wanting SMS, the wet dream of most (not me) has not been mentioned among the desires of Maldini. Fans would be like "wait, Maldini wanted SMS?" And they'd ask why doesn't management go for him, even if Maldini is gone?

Because all the rumors that people are gobbling up are designed to make Maldini look bad. Which is disgusting to me. Fire the man, fine, but don't tell me that Maldini was simultaneously obsessed with old players alone but the blame him for young players having a tough first year (CDK, Adli, etc) whilst conveniently forgetting who scouted and recommended them, ahem: Moncada.

Also, I'm waiting for the unearthed diamonds that required us to promote Moncada. Being linked to every high profile free agent like Thuram, Ndicka, and Tielemans isn't some earth shattering Moneyball play. Chuk scored goals against Real Madrid and became popular around the transfer market world, so again, I'm waiting for the unique Enzos and Muanis of the world.

And of course, we have the tactical maestro in Pioli, who I hope will all surprise us this season, genuinely.

You wanna believe a rumor about Maldini wanting Italiano but not one that he wants Pirlo ?
Media are just guessing.
There is no condpiracy.
All RB need to do uf they wanted to make Maldini look bad is print a list of the players he got from two years till now.

 

[Milan10]

And that’s all there seems to be to it.
They operate a certain way, we see that with Toulouse. They got success with it and bought a bigger club to replicate that model. And there are no position or space for how Maldini want to operate (control of the technical side with full power)… that’s one of the reason he didn’t join the club in the past, I don’t see why he’d accept it now…especially after having it.

All the other reasons, Pioli disagreements, results, budget issues are secondary, maybe even irrelevant.

People can’t accept that it wasn’t a performance issue, it was a power issue. Maldini was pushing for Galliani like authority and it was rubbing everyone else the wrong way. Paola’s ego got the better of him, it basically boiled down to him believing he knew better than everyone else and not wanting to be told no if he was operating within the budget.

Galliani was successful when he had a great team around him just like Maldini was initially. Interestingly, when Maldini was given more autonomy he blew it last summer.

 

[Wild]

What do you mean exactly?

Finish Moneyball & go watch Lock stock and two smoking barrels.
You need a lot of bread when its about movies.

 

[Milan10]

So the 31 mil that you saved on wages automatically gets added to the transfer budget because the new players bought with that money aren't going to have similar wages and are going to play for free instead?? Wow, you're such a genius! They should fire Moncada and hire you instead!

I really enjoyed his post yesterday where he called you autistic and then refused to read your reply

 

[Wild]

That's exactly what I meant the other day. Yeah, it feels wrong sacking a club legend with Maldinis track record and pedigree from one day to another. It really does. But I don't know if there was much of an alternative in the timing TBH. The decision had obviously been taken way before. Weeks, if not even months. But businesswise it makes sense. They needed Maldini to get the Leao renewal over the line. No Leao renewal would've been catastrophic. Moreover we were in the middle of a deep CL run and the fight for 4th place. Distracting the team with such a bomb before the season had ended was impossible, needless to explain. But once the season had ended, and given the decision had already taken long time ago, they couldn't just wait and let Maldini conduct the mercato either...

Could the sacking have beeen handled more smoothly? More transitional?

It really depends on where Maldini stood, as you said. I don't think he would have accepted to basically be a dead man walking, with everyone knowing he's only here to save face, but with no managerial powers at all. I really don't. And it's also beneath Maldini. Or to put it in Billy Beans words in 'Moneyball' when it comes to sacking players and how to communicate it to them: «Do you believe they prefer five shots in the chest to bleed out or one single lethal shot in the head?»

This says a lot about how Americans think. If you asked them if they hate Paolo and why they couldn't spare some nice words they'll probably answer you: "Why? Why the romantic sugarcoat and nice talking when we all know it's just words and fluff? It's a sack after all, no promotion. No need to bullshit people about that."

For us it sounds cruel, bot for them and the way they do business, they probably think they did Maldini a favor with that stone cold statement and are honestly shocked about us being shocked Classic clash of cultures I guess. It's not the first time it happened. It happened with Leonardo and Boban too. It's going to happen again, I promise, probably when they fire Pioli.

Maldini wanted full power.
RB reluctantly caved in coming from previous good work from Maldini including wining the league.
Maldini with full power prodeced his shittiest mercato with Milan.
They asked him to return to teamwork , he said no so they fired him.
Its as easy as that.

 

[ROSSONERI7]

Not quite off-topic.
If he represents an African country, does his status immediately become non-EU?

I'm trying to wrap my head around this because from what I can tell, Chukwueeze should be eligible for Spanish citizenship (and Nigeria allows dual/multi-Citizenship), so I wonder why he wouldn't obtain it to allow himself more opportunities to play for bigger clubs.

Guess you’re right.
As an Ivorian, I was coming more from the Angle of “I didn’t know he had any connection to the country”. and a little bit “he’d be gone from AFCON” (played home next season) .

I don’t suggest you try to wrap your head around rumors…at the end of the market, we won’t have more non EU players than we should, and we won’t have less homegrown/league grown players than we should. That’s for sure.

 

[taura]

Not quite off-topic.
If he represents an African country, does his status immediately become non-EU?

I'm trying to wrap my head around this because from what I can tell, Chukwueeze should be eligible for Spanish citizenship (and Nigeria allows dual/multi-Citizenship), so I wonder why he wouldn't obtain it to allow himself more opportunities to play for bigger clubs.

But technically if he signs with us and chances his nationality after it doesn't matter. Non-eu rules only apply to players coming to serie a from abroad. We haven't wasted a non eu spot on Messias or Bennacer since they both were playing in Italy before

 

[Wild]

Time to avoid this forum for a while.

Clearly gone into nonsense territory.

Pussy.

 

[Kojak]

So the 31 mil that you saved on wages automatically gets added to the budget because the new players bought with that money aren't going to have similar wages and are going to play for free instead?? Wow, you're such a genius! They should fire Moncada and hire you instead!

If the management was so shit, then how come Milan over the last 3 seasons has come 2nd place, 1st place, and 4th place in Serie A as well as making CL semis while going from huge losses to profitable for the 1st time in 10 years? So if Milan, did as well as the other big clubs in Serie A while spending much less on salaries, then either Milan management is just as good or all the top clubs have idiots working in their management!

If you own a company that's making big losses and doing shit and the new CEO completely turns it around makes it much better, increases the revenues and makes it profitable, then are you going to tell him but worker A, worker B and worker XYZ that you hired didn't do fuck all and you wasted too much money on them so you're performance as CEO is shit?! Do your care about the results the CEO makes more or how he does it? Because it seems some idiots on the forum are going more into tiny details rather than the overall results.

Personally I think the management fucked up with Origi but all the other cheap / free transfers and cheap loans of players are because they there wasn't money to buy 20-30 mil players instead. Do you think management would spend 2 mil to complete Messias signing if their was 20 mil to spend on a right winger?? Even for last year's mercato which as pretty bad, CDK value has maybe dropped 10-12 mil, while Thiaw has gone up by maybe 25-30 mil. So even this shit mercato is positive in purely money terms.

Some of these idiots on the forum don't even understand the concept that you can't register more than 17 non-serie A developed players for the CL and that there are "ways" around that!! They don't even understand simple ideas like amortization and think it's super "cheap" to sign a player for free and then pay him a 10-12 mil gross salary! What's to discuss when idiots don't even know the basic rules and concepts like home grown quotas, difference between net and gross salary, yearly squad cost....etc??

Lol no that's you drawing yet another illogical conclusion you simple autistic cunt

I was merely pointing out that with the 60m saved on fees/wages + 50m mercato budget, Moncada managed to buy half a dozen quality players in the past. However, what a complete and utter r3tard like you fails to acknowledge is that Moncada usually signs dirt cheap talent from overseas who benefit from the GDT so the vast majority of the new signings would actually earn far LESS than the outgoing players.

Also, it's actually HILARIOUS how you try and come across as some sort of financial genius whilst being a PEASANT in debt in reality Luckily, those of us who actually KNOW a thing or two about money (ditto for Furlani + Cardinale) realise that this club was being run in an extremely inefficient manner from a financial perspective which is why they rightfully sacked Maldini. Those are the facts but you can continue to cry and moan about 'not having enough money available' when we've been handing out lavish contracts and blowing our budget on useless players whilst leaving gaping holes in the side in addition to making no sales.

Anyway, back on the blocked list you go you absolute fruitcake!

 

[Samaldinho]

Moncada supposedly tried to get us to sign Enzo and Muani last summer. Maldini wasn’t able to close either deal, agents in Enzo’s case and Muani chose Germany. What else do you expect Moncada to do?

We were early for Julian Alvarez again because of Moncada but couldn’t close that deal (probably due to money?)

You may have missed them, but rumors came out after Maldini was fired that he and Massara were very interested in SMS but that there was uncertainty if that was still the case with new management. Same rumors said the same of RLC, Arnautovic, and your boy Berardi.

The Pirlo link is probably BS, the rest of the rumors don’t seem disingenuous.

I think we lost out on Alvarez because... City and Pep, the kid made the right choice for his career. Pep coaches the hell out of his players, he's amazing at improving them.

What do I expect from Moncada? For him to deliver another Enzo, Muani, and Alvarez this summer. High profile free agents that every moron looking up transfermarkt knows don't require you to be prime Galliani to figure out. If we're going to fire our technical director, who has a four year track record of success, then... I want an upgrade.

People are shortening the window of Maldini's success, apparently he was only solely responsible when he hired GP, and last summer, but from 2020-2022 it was everyone else at the club who did the great work, apparently.

What do I expect from Moncada? Well, if I'm supposed to believe in corporate America's ruthless efficiency (which I don't [I'm essentially the inverse of Ron Swanson now that I think about it]) then unless Moncada outperforms Maldini, in the upcoming season, then I think we can safely say that he has not met expectations. However, I do expect time-restricted moves being credited to the new hire that most probably would have done by the old employee anyway, to artificially count towards the "increase" in performance.

I saw a report about the SMS transfer post-Maldini firing, but not the drum-beating over Arna, Berardi, and Pirlo that swirls like a medieval army stirring up smoke and fire to disorient an opposing army.

Maldini isn't talking to the press, while the club is, that much is clear. You want to fire Maldini, because he's getting in your way? Fine. But leave the man alone. That is disgraceful and unnecessary, and worse yet, if you feel the need to do that, then... you'll harm your business in the future with that sort of reputation.

If Maldini was under-performing (the line being blasted out by the club to the press) then I expect a substantial increase in performance. Simple.

 

[pippofan]

The only thing he should be unhappy are his performances. He is the only reason he is not getting playing time. Ok i understand that maybe he is put in a position that he dosent like but at least put some fight, some desire. You might missplace passes, dribbles or shots..but at least show some heart and balls. If u just go out and be the sad boy..then thats what u get

Yeah, I know. He doesn't have a strong personality, is not tough enough and tends to hide instead of going for the ball. When pressing he gives up pretty easily and doesn't often follow once the opponent is passed him. MM should have considered these shortcomings like his character before spending so much on him. I was just looking for a reason why he was so poor, maybe he just sucks.

 

[ForzaSandro]

Whoever wins tomorrow will be great and excellent for trolling purposes

Ordinarily it should be (insert name) over Inter....but not this smug overrated cunt Guardiola. It will be SAD if Printer wins but fucking GLORIOUS if Guardiola overthinks it.

Given the level of corruption in sports it wouldn't be unthinkable if Printer wins either. Whoever is dumb enough to bet on them could walk away with a lot of cash

If Pep had any overthinking to do it would have been against Madrid in my opinion. City might end up humiliating Inter.

 

[pippofan]

Cannot wait until we are all united against Inter tomorrow. RnB one team, one purpose.

The hatred for Inter is paramount on who to root for, I don't care who they play. Although if the final was Juve-Inter it'd be a tough decision.

 

[ForzaSandro]

What about Pirlo? According to reports Maldini wanted Pirlo!

According to reports, Maldini was offered 35 Mil for the Summer transfer window. Media propaganda on both sides. Most people including myself think they've made a mistake in letting go of Maldini. Life must however go on while we hope for the best.

 

[Kranjcar]

Selling Kalulu would be a huge mistake. He is perfect to take over at RB. He is made for that role and will become a rock there if given the opportunity to play ahead of Calabria. As a CB, he is good, but has his limitations. And yes, with the emergence of Thiaw, I think we are more solid back there, especially in terms of height and physicality.

Besides, why do we need to sell Kalulu for Ndicka? Ndicka is free. If anything, sell Fodder-Ballo-Toure and that should make room. In terms of selling to make some money and funding the market, there are far more other players we should sell before even thinking of giving away Kalulu.

No comment. You would say a LB to make a space for CD? Why don’t you sell lazetic to make a space

 

[ForzaSandro]

Kalulu’s sel makes sense. We should be able to sell players and kalulu is definitely not very much needed now. We will have tomori , thiaw, ndicka as cb’s. Calabria and florenzi as rb. Theo and ndicka as lb. If we don’t sell kalulu then we should sell calabria. When we have holes and don’t have huge money we shouldn’t have 2 quality players in 1 spot. Ndicka free , take 30 m for kalulu and buy proper rw or st.

How many games did Florenzi play last season and how old is he? And Calabria, how many games is he out each season to injuries? Just a few factors to consider my good man.

 

[pippofan]

Inter president Zhang discusses Maldini's sacking and admits desire for 'competitive' Milan

The president of Inter, Steven Zhang, has spoken about the sacking of Paolo Maldini and also revealed his desire to see a competitive AC Milan side.

sempremilan.com

The president of Inter, Steven Zhang, has spoken about the sacking of Paolo Maldini and also revealed his desire to see a competitive AC Milan side.

“It’s a very delicate issue, investing in another management and a great character like Maldini who won like this a lot at the club,” he said.

“Obviously people were very surprised by this separation, but these are things that happen in football. A stable and competitive Milan is also a stimulus for Inter, let’s grow together.”


I know Inter, is the enemy but Zhang seems like a cool guy! Plus he went to the same University as me, thought not as the same time as me!

And he's not an absentee owner like ours, imagine the hours of flying China-Italy. He hasn't learned Italian, though, every interview is in English.

 

[pippofan]

We all were. 2023 he almost broke positivity force. Some would even scratch the word "almost". It's been a tough time for positivity. But we're still standing.

the few, the proud, the marines. Never surrender, Semper Fi.

 

[Wild]

Pep coaches the hell out of his players, he's amazing at improving them.

 

[brk]

No comment. You would say a LB to make a space for CD? Why don’t you sell lazetic to make a space

No the idea is that we have way too many right footed CBs and none that are left footed.

 

[Samaldinho]

People can’t accept that it wasn’t a performance issue, it was a power issue. Maldini was pushing for Galliani like authority and it was rubbing everyone else the wrong way. Paola’s ego got the better of him, it basically boiled down to him believing he knew better than everyone else and not wanting to be told no if he was operating within the budget.

Galliani was successful when he had a great team around him just like Maldini was initially. Interestingly, when Maldini was given more autonomy he blew it last summer.

There are people who are genuinely saying Maldini was fired over his performance, first of all.

Second, Maldini transformed into being power hungry in the span of a few months all-of-a-sudden? Men in their 50's are now inclined towards dramatic changes in personality-type and characteristics? Maldini was so power hungry he made sure that he had a partner in Massara? A man socialized into the value of teamwork now wanted to be dictator?

Maldini was "rubbing people the wrong way" when the staff at Casa Milan were shocked and didn't want to see MM go?

Third, you said he blew it last summer but then say it wasn't about performance? Which one is it then?

This reminds me of when Tuchel was fired at Chelsea, and unlike Maldini, he actually is an annoying weirdo, with a track record of alienating people at Dortmund, PSG, and Chelsea--but all the dirt on him came out after Chelsea fired him. But unlike Tuchel, Maldini has a long history of being... a great person? So... forgive me if I don't believe that Paolo Maldini suddenly changed in the span of a few months from what he's always been before.

Obviously, we all make our choices as to whether to believe the narrative being spun post-firing or not--and I'm less inclined to believe that Maldini transformed into a dictator who annoyed people, when in reality, the owner has an ego on him--and if that results in Milan winning 10 CLs in a row, and Milan returning to being a superpower, then I hope more people annoy him. But if this little hissy fit doesn't work for him, then all the PR in the world isn't going to make up for it, just like Todd Boehly can't run away from spending 600m and finishing in the bottom half of the table.

If Furlani, Moncada, and Pioli make Milan a juggernaut, I'll fold faster than The Flash on laundry day, but... until then... I'm going to be skeptical.

 

[Kranjcar]

Maldini was on a 2.5 salary at Milan and Mocanda on 1.1. Just enough to replace the with Marcus Thuram. That a moneyball move. Invest in players not in the overhead.

 

[Buske]

Scaroni accuses Maldini being unable to work in team.
Maldini: playing with teammates his whole life
Scaroni: rat looking old guy that noone likes.
And noone really knows what his job is

What a time to be Milan fan