Daniel Maldini unabashed: “They will never stop”

“I carry a challenging last name, and that’s not always an advantage.”

After coming through the youth ranks at AC Milan, and winning the tricolor last season with the Rossoneri club, Daniel Maldini last summer was sold on loan to Spezia. The impact in the Ligurian club, also accomplice to a muscular stop that put him out of action for five games, was not the easiest: the nephew and son of art collected only 72′ spread over three league games.

Exclusively interviewed by Sportweek on the eve of the match that will see his Spezia opposing AC Milan in the San Siro match on Saturday night, Daniel spoke of the difficulty of carrying such a demanding surname on his shoulders. Between comparisons and ‘accusations’ of recommendations, the striker spoke from the heart.

“I think they will never stop saying ‘That one plays because he is the son of…’. Of course, it also depends on me that it ends. It always matters who says these things. Sometimes I thought, maybe it’s true. It’s true and I don’t realize it. But most of the time I didn’t give a damn,” the class of 2001 began.

“It’s certainly different having the last name I have than having another one, but it depends on how you live it. I live it well. I’ve learned to live it well. Sometimes it’s heavier, sometimes it’s easier. Like all things, it has its pros and cons. I would like everyone to see what I can do on a soccer field, also because I haven’t proved everything yet. I am missing something. Now I already feel better, more confident, more ready. Being confronted with a different reality from what I was used to at Milan has increased my confidence, ” he concluded.