Paolo Maldini's failed Manchester United transfer as INEOS 'consider' former AC Milan ace appointment
Paolo Maldini is one of the greatest defenders to have ever played the game, but Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of bringing him to Man United were quickly dashed
On May 23, 2007, Italian football legend Paolo Maldini led AC Milan to victory in the Champions League, securing his place in football history.
Almost two years after Liverpool's stunning comeback in Istanbul, Maldini got another chance to win his fifth European Cup and, with the help of two goals from Filippo Inzaghi, he captained Milan to a 2-1 win over Liverpool in Athens. Despite having won the prestigious trophy in 1989, 1990, 1994 and at Old Trafford in 2003, the 2007 victory was probably the sweetest for Maldini.
This was due to how Milan had lost to the same opponent in the final two years earlier. Surrounded by some of the biggest names in football, including Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Cafu and Kaka, Maldini lifted the trophy once again.
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This marked his 25th major trophy in a Milan career that lasted exactly 25 years. Maldini is remembered as one of the greatest defenders in football history, respected and loved by all.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United boss, once tried to sign Paolo Maldini from AC Milan. He said: "I did try [to sign Maldini] but when I met his father he was quite formidable, I got a shake of the head. I remember him saying, 'my grandfather is Milan, my father is, I am Milan, my sons are Milan. Forget it.'"
Maldini was a star player in Italy during the mid '90s, playing for a Milan team filled with talent like Massimo Ambrosini, Paolo Di Canio, Roberto Baggio and George Weah. Despite this, Ferguson, who hadn't won the European Cup at that time, tried to bring Maldini to Manchester.
However, Maldini's father, Cesare, who also played for Milan, quickly put an end to Ferguson's hopes. Maldini continued to play for Milan until his retirement in 2009, captaining the team from 1997 onwards.
Former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, once tried to persuade Italian football legend Maldini to join his team. However, it became clear pretty quickly that Maldini, who was deeply rooted in AC Milan, had no intention of leaving his lifelong club.
Maldini, who is known for his unwavering loyalty to Milan, commenced his football journey there as a young boy in 1978. He never wore any club's colours other than Milan's red and black until his retirement in May 2009, except when he was representing Italy on the international stage, earning himself 126 caps over a 14-year span.
Yet, Sir Alex wasn't the only manager who dreamt of having Maldini in his squad. Chelsea's former manager, the late Luca Vialli, also reached out to the legendary defender who many consider the greatest of his time, wondering if he might be enticed to make the move to Stamford Bridge. It was an offer that the seven-time Serie A winner did contemplate, but his heart was always set on staying in Milan.
In a sit-down with Jamie Carragher for the Mail in 2015, Maldini reflected: "I had an offer from Manchester United, but I didn't speak directly to them," before adding: "Luca Vialli, when he was Chelsea manager, called me. That was in 1996.
"We'd had a very bad season. There was also something from Arsenal, but I never spoke to them directly. I would have said no, anyway.
"Vialli was a friend of mine and he was the only one who made me think. I had some problems with my team and the supporters at that time. I thought, just for one day, 'What if?' But then, no."
Not long after Maldini played his final game on May 31, 2009, rounding off a successful career packed with silverware, Chelsea invited him to move to England again, this time as a coach. However, Maldini firmly stated he wasn't ready for that step.
"The offer came only one week after my last game for Milan," he added. "I wasn't ready. I didn't want to move my family to London.
"I went there. I spoke to Mr [Roman] Abramovich. I spoke to Ray Wilkins, who I had played with at Milan. I don't know. I decided not to do it."
Before retiring, Maldini opened up that he never intended to become a football coach. He retreated from the sport until August 2018 when he accepted a role at Milan as sporting strategy and development director. Less than a year later, he climbed the ranks to become technical director.
But after leaving the Italian outfit last summer, Maldini is available - with The Telegraph reporting last month that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS are considering offering him a role at Old Trafford once their bid to acquire a 25 per cent stake in the club is finalised.
After the success he enjoyed during his playing career after his last failed move to United, the Reds may want to make sure they snap him up this time around.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.