Paolo Maldini has admitted he would only consider offers from “high-level clubs” as he seeks his return to football.
The legendary Italian defender left his role as AC Milan’s technical director in June 2023 and has been tipped to join Manchester United as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new sporting department, which the INEOS boss is seeking to form when his impending minority takeover is finalised.
Such is his attachment to Milan, however, Maldini confessed he would struggle to join another club and would require a huge project to convince him to make the move.
“For my job, the alternatives to Milan are very limited,” he told La Repubblica. “I could never go to another Italian team, possibly I would only evaluate the offer of a high-level foreign team. I like winning and building.
“Saudi Arabia could be a stimulating option, who knows?”
Richard Arnold has departed his role as chief executive at Old Trafford and former Juventus and PSG official Jean-Claude Blanc is among the favourites to replace him in Ratcliffe’s regime.
Ratcliffe is expected to take a similar approach to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital at Chelsea by building a team full of directors and knowledgeable officials to try and lead United into the future, with Maldini touted by various reports as a possible candidate.
Paul Mitchell, currently out of work after leaving Monaco in October, is believed to be Ratcliffe’s preferred sporting director but there could be several hirings and the likes of Atalanta’s Lee Congerton and Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman have both been considered.
Palace owner Steve Parish recently stressed he had heard nothing from United about their interest in Freedman, but the Red Devils are expected to ramp up their search for a new director once Ratcliffe’s share purchase finally goes through.