Milan Transfer Market: Another Twist in the Mike Maignan Saga—A Huge Offer
Mike Maignan is expected at Milanello on August 16, but in the meantime, he continues to weigh his options. The goalkeeper is under contract with Milan through 2031 on a lucrative deal, with a salary close to that of Rafa Leao: about 7 million euros per season, including easily attainable bonuses. Few European clubs are in a position to offer higher figures. However, an opportunity could arise from Saudi Arabia, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr looking for a new starting goalkeeper to replace Bento: the Saudi club is reportedly already moving decisively. At the moment, it’s unclear whether Maignan would consider a move to the Saudi Pro League. In the background, however, his relationship with Milan appears to have cooled compared to the past, despite his role as captain.
What makes the situation even more explosive is the reaction from parts of the media and the fan base. Telelombardia director Fabio Ravezzani harshly criticized the French goalkeeper on his YouTube channel: “I wonder if Mike Maignan, above all, isn’t ashamed of this behavior, because there’s a difference between Maignan and Rabiot: Maignan owes a lot to Milan, and Milan launched him onto the international stage; they put their trust in him when he was still a relatively unknown goalkeeper, helped him make the national team, paid him well, and renewed a very lucrative contract set to expire in 2031.” Ravezzani then doubled down: “Not only that, but Maignan was also made captain of Milan—a symbol of the club. Here is the Milan captain who disappears, who comes back whenever the hell he feels like it, who removes every reference to Milan from his social media. He is an unworthy captain, and this must be said—unworthy because he should have a modicum of respect for the fans who loved him so much.”
The controversy comes amid an already tense situation: Rossoneri fans had previously been irritated by Maignan’s absence from Franco Baresi’s funeral, and now the removal of any reference to Milan from his Instagram profile—a move also made by his compatriot Youssouf Fofana, a player now on his way out of the club—has further fueled suspicions of an imminent rift. Meanwhile, calls are growing on social media to reassign the captain’s armband to Luka Modric.
The paradox is that just last January, Maignan had renewed his contract with the Diavolo through 2031, and in recent weeks, Ruben Amorim had contacted him by phone to reaffirm his central role in the new technical project. Evidently, those assurances weren’t enough. Over the past few years, the goalkeeper has been linked to Juventus, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich—several of which are still on the hunt for a top-tier goalkeeper.
Another factor that may have affected the French goalkeeper’s mood is the departure of Claudio Filippi, the longtime goalkeeper coach close to Allegri, who bid farewell to the Rossoneri world via Instagram with these words: “After just one year, my adventure at Milan—a glorious club supported by extraordinary fans—comes to an end. To Mike, Pietro, Lorenzo, and Matteo, I offer my most sincere thanks and best wishes for a future full of success.” Filippi and Maignan had built a very strong bond day by day on the field, and his departure represented yet another loss of a point of reference for the Rossoneri’s No. 16.
The Maignan situation will be one of the central topics at the transfer summit with Gerry Cardinale, who is expected at Milanello in the coming hours. This meeting promises to be decisive not only for the goalkeeper’s future but for the entire squad’s structure: at least eight transfers are on the table to be finalized, along with several signings to be completed before the start of the season, now just one week away.
