The name of Paolo Maldini is once again circulating in connection with the Italian national team. The federation’s top brass reportedly reached out to the former Milan captain to gauge his interest in taking on a managerial role within the FIGC setup. But caution is warranted: the situation is far from settled, and there is no guarantee that Maldini will accept.
The Federation’s Call and Contacts With Other Former Players
The phone call from federation officials did take place, and similar outreach has been made to other former top-level players. For now, however, these remain purely exploratory conversations: no agreement has been reached, and no contract is on the table. The road to a formal appointment as technical director of the national team is long and uncertain, and the news should be read with appropriate caution.
Maldini’s True Desire: Returning to Milan
Those who know Maldini well understand that his real goal is one and one only: returning to Milan. Just not under the current ownership. The Rossoneri legend — 25 years on the pitch in the famous red and black, three league titles, five Champions League trophies and a medal cabinet without equal — has made clear on multiple occasions that his bond with the club runs far deeper than a professional relationship.
His departure from Milan in the summer of 2023, after two seasons as head of the technical area, left visible wounds. The sense is that Maldini is working quietly and patiently, waiting for the right moment to return — but only under conditions that honour his vision for the club and his standing as a football executive.
The Ownership Question: New Stadium and a Valuation Above €2 Billion
Any return of Maldini to Milan is closely tied to a potential change of ownership — and this opens a complex scenario. Milan is currently valued at well over €2 billion, a figure that makes any acquisition deal far from straightforward. Gerry Cardinale and RedBird Capital appear intent on waiting for the completion of the new stadium project before considering any form of sale, aware that the new ground will significantly increase the club’s overall value.
In this landscape, a short-term ownership change looks unlikely — and with it, the prospect of Maldini returning to Via Aldo Rossi anytime soon also fades. As previously reported on these pages, Milan is going through a complex period of managerial transition, and a figure of Maldini’s calibre could represent a future solution of the highest possible level.
The National Team: An Option, Not a Certainty
In this context, the possibility of a role with the national team looks more like a temporary solution — a way to stay involved in football — rather than a definitive life choice for Maldini. Taking on a position with the Azzurri would undoubtedly carry a certain appeal, but it remains unclear whether this is truly the path he will choose.
The situation remains fluid. Paolo Maldini is far too important a figure in Italian football to stay in the background for long, and whatever decision he makes will be followed with enormous interest by the entire Rossoneri world.
