Paolo Maldini is one of the greatest defenders in history, but Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of bringing him to Manchester United were quickly dashed.
On May 23, 2007, Italian football legend Paolo Maldini led AC Milan to win the Champions League, cementing his place in football history.
Nearly two years after Liverpool's stunning comeback in Istanbul, Maldini had another chance to win his fifth European Cup and with the help of two goals from Filippo Inzaghi, he led Milan to victory. -1 against Liverpool in Athens. Surrounded by some of football's biggest names, including Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Cafu and Kaka, Maldini once again lifted the trophy. Although he won the prestigious title in 1989, 1990, 1994 and at Old Trafford in 2003, the 2007 victory was perhaps the sweetest for Maldini, mainly because of his revenge on Liverpool.
Sir Alex Ferguson, former Manchester United coach, once tried to sign Paolo Maldini from AC Milan. He said: "I tried but when I met his father, he was quite formidable, I shook my head. I remember him saying, 'My grandfather is from Milan, so is my father, I am also from Milan, you guys. my son is Milan. Forget him'."
Maldini was a star player in Italy in the mid-90s, playing for a Milan squad filled with talent such as Massimo Ambrosini, Paolo Di Canio, Roberto Baggio and George Weah. Ferguson, who had not won the European Cup at that time, tried to bring Maldini to Manchester. However, Maldini's father, Cesare, who also played for Milan, quickly dashed Ferguson's hopes. Maldini continued to play for Milan until retiring in 2009, serving as captain since 1997.
Maldini, who is known for his unswerving loyalty to Milan, started his football journey as a boy in 1978. He never wore any club's jersey other than the Milan's red and black, except when he represented Italy, had 126 caps over a 14-year period.
In a conversation with Jamie Carragher in 2015, Maldini said: "I had an offer from Manchester United, but I didn't speak to them directly. Luca Vialli, when he was Chelsea coach, called me. That was in 1996. We had a very bad season. There was also something from Arsenal, but I never spoke to them directly. I would have said no anyway. ."
Not long after Maldini played his last match on 31 May 2009, ending a successful career filled with many trophies, Chelsea invited Maldini to move to England again, this time as a coach. However, Maldini firmly stated that he is not ready for that step.
The Italian football legend stayed away from the king's sport until August 2018, when he took on the role of director of sports strategy and development in Milan. Less than a year later, he climbed to the position of technical director. But after leaving the Italian team last summer, Maldini is ready for new teams. The Telegraph reported last month that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS were considering offering him a role at Old Trafford once his takeover of 25% of the club's shares was completed.
After the success he achieved during his playing career, following the failed attempts to bring Maldini to Man United , the Red Devils may want to make sure they get him this time around.
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