On Maldini - I will stand on my theory that they sold him a good dream that pulled on his loyalty to the club to take it where Elliot was not allowing him and then they pulled the rug from under him. He wont quit midseason but in summer I wouldnt put it past him walking away, maybe not 2023 but 2024 if things dont change.
On Liverpool - remember they wanted to sell and then that died down. I think they too pulled back investment but whomever is doing transfers made bad choices and chased players they didnt truly need (if money isnt going to be there). Wait for Luis Diaz to return and buy mids instead of splurging for Gakpo.
They also have had quite a few misses in midfield and seemed to think they will roll with the same guys in hope. They also wanted Enzo but Chelsea just priced them out.
If Cardinale thinks he's going to install his Toulouse analytics system that he uses with Comolli here... I swear to God, I will riot. I hate Comolli so much.
The way Redbird is seemingly withholding support, it really feels a lot like when an NFL team gets a new owner and wants to make changes, but things aren't bad enough to justify them pushing everyone out. But that strategy is fine because revenues aren't tied to performance and the draft removes the acquisition costs by a factor of a gagillion, so you can tank your short-term and could even be incentivized to do so, which doesn't work in this context.
The only reason I'm not
fully getting behind this idea that Redbird is undermining Maldini and Pioli to put in their own guys is because of how big an interest Elliott still has in Milan, and that Elliott still has a significant presence in our boardroom, CEO, etc. Also, I think Maldini would walk away, it's not like he needs the money.
But this whole situation fucking stinks. Maldini can't even bring in like... a Mandzukic? Kjaer? Meite? Those were not all successes, but, he seemingly had more to work with before than he does now. I was inclined to think "okay, maybe in the summer, ownership transition, I get it..." but why not get something like Tomori? The only excuse I can offer is that no one will agree to a deal like that? Otherwise... a keeper was needed! You sought out keepers. Vasquez? Kid also talked
a lot.
With Liverpool? I don't get what they are doing. They keep talking about Jude Bellingham, but, even if he is the star everyone says for Liverpool, they still have Thiago, and Fabinho
fell off a cliff! They need more than one midfielder, they need a few.
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