Mike Maignan is expected to renew his contract with AC Milan this year, but former goalkeeper and legend Christian Abbiati has compared the situation to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s.
It has been a difficult year for everyone at Milan, and as a result, the scope is more magnified on certain players. However, for the key three, the pressure is clearly on and the attention on their performances is staggering.
The slightest foot wrong is criticised, and unfortunately, they have often done so. However, the most critical issues, you could argue, have involved Maignan, who has seemingly regressed since Sergio Conceicao’s appointment.
Nevertheless, the Frenchman still has quality as we see on occasions, but unfortunately, it is not as consistent as it once was, and this brings into question the situation of his renewal. At present, his contract will expire in the summer of 2026, unless an extension arrives.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Calciomercato.com, Abbiati summarised the situation.
Yeah, but it didn’t go very well. When I communicated that I wouldn’t be doing another season in that role, inside I said to myself ‘but what have I done… I shouldn’t have done this one either’.
“It happened that I would say something to a player, and the other side would say the opposite. To stand there advising which restaurant to eat at, it’s better to stay at home. It was bad, then things got better when Gattuso arrived.
I would talk to them. I’ve learnt that you should never close the door on something for good.”
A star-studded Milan, like your Harleys: do you like the assonance?
I’m fond of the Berlusconi and the Moratti. In short, to the old school, those owners who were present in the area and fans of the teams they owned.”
Just one question about an individual player: we can’t help but ask you about Maignan. Is it right to renew him?
“They made him captain and he is important for the dressing room. This year he made a few more mistakes, but it’s like with Donnarumma: when you get used to it, then the mistakes stand out more.”
