Milan Face Challenging Task in Negotiation with Maignan

Despite a stellar campaign, Milan risk losing Mike Maignan on a free transfer. The reason for the acrimony between the parties is dated. There might not be time or room to mend fences, Mattia Moretto reports (via SOSFanta).

The star can sign a pre-contract with a new team from February onward, but verbal agreements can be reached much earlier. The Rossoneri brass began negotiating in September 2024, making substantial progress early on.

Milan intended to make Maignan one of the highest-paid players in the squad at the time. The hierarchy and his camp shook hands on an extension until 2028 with a €5M salary plus add-ons in February 2025.

The goalkeeper was ready to ink it, but the management put everything on hold for multiple reasons, especially economic ones. They started to realize they wouldn’t qualify for any European competition, which led to some strategic adjustments.

Chelsea tried to exploit the impasse and offered €15M last summer, but the Rossoneri rejected. The player wanted to go, then Massimiliano Allegri and Igli Tare took him off the market and asked him to give his 100 percent while he was still in San Siro. It’s indeed happening, but the relationship remains ice cold.

Some Premier League sides and Juventus are working to lure him, while Inter haven’t taken concrete steps to do so at this stage.

Our Take on Maignan and Milan

It’s an uphill climb when things get this sour, but the Rossoneri have a new sporting director and a very influential coach compared to the time when the rift started, so it’s not over until the fat lady sings. It’s surely great news that the affair hasn’t hurt his performances.