Paolo Maldini’s failed Manchester United transfer as INEOS ‘consider’ former AC Milan ace appointment

Despite being one of the best defenders in history, Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans to sign Paolo Maldini to a contract with Manchester United were short-lived.

Paulo Maldini is reportedly being lined up for a role at Manchester United (Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)

Italian football legend Paolo Maldini made football history on May 23, 2007, when he led AC Milan to a Champions League victory.

Maldini had another opportunity to win his fifth European Cup nearly two years after Liverpool’s incredible comeback in Istanbul. With two goals from Filippo Inzaghi, Milan defeated Liverpool 2-1 in Athens. Though Maldini had already won the coveted trophy in 1989, 1990, 1994, and at Old Trafford in 2003, the 2007 triumph was arguably the most memorable.

This resulted from Milan’s defeat in the championship game two years prior by the same opponent. Surrounded by football legends such as Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Cafu, and Kaka, Maldini raised the trophy one more time.

In a career that spanned precisely 25 years at Milan, this represented his 25th major trophy. Everyone loved and respected Maldini, who is regarded as one of the best defenders in football history.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once attempted to sign AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini. “I tried [to sign Maldini], but his father was very strong, and I was met with a shake of the head,” he stated. He said, “My father is Milan, my grandfather is Milan, I am Milan, and my sons are Milan,” as I recall. Put it out of your mind.”

Playing for a Milan team that included talented players like Massimo Ambrosini, Paolo Di Canio, Roberto Baggio, and George Weah, Maldini was a rising star in Italy in the mid-1990s. Ferguson, who at the time had not won the European Cup, nevertheless made an attempt to sign Maldini to join Manchester United.

Paulo Maldini enjoyed a glittering playing career with AC Milan (Image: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But Ferguson’s hopes were quickly dashed by Cesare, Maldini’s father and another Milan player. Maldini captained Milan from 1997 until 2009, when he announced his retirement from the team.

Legendary Italian football player Maldini was once courted by Sir Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United, to join his squad. But it was soon evident that Maldini, who was a lifelong member of AC Milan, had no intention of leaving the team.

Famous for his steadfast devotion to Milan, Maldini started playing football there in 1978 as a small child. Until his retirement in May 2009, he only ever wore Milan’s red and black uniforms, with the exception of when he was playing international football for Italy, where he amassed 126 caps over a 14-year career.

However, Sir Alex wasn’t the only manager who wished Maldini was on his team. The late Luca Vialli, the manager of Chelsea, also made contact with the legendary defender, who is regarded by many as the best of all time, inquiring as to whether he would be interested in moving to Stamford Bridge. The seven-time Serie A champion did consider the offer, but he had always intended to stay in Milan.

“I had an offer from Manchester United, but I didn’t speak directly to them,” Maldini remarked in a 2015 sit-down with Jamie Carragher for the Mail. “Luca Vialli, when he was Chelsea manager, called me,” he continued. That was 1996.

“It had been a terrible season. Arsenal also had something, but I never had a direct conversation with them. In any case, I would have declined.

“The only person who got me to think was my friend Valerilli. At the time, I was having some issues with both my team and the supporters. For a single day, I wondered, “What if?” Then again, no.”

Shortly after completing a trophy-filled career with his final game on May 31, 2009, Maldini received an invitation from Chelsea to return to England as a coach. Maldini, though, made it clear that he wasn’t prepared for that move.

“The offer came only one week after my last game for Milan,” he stated. “I wasn’t prepared. I had no desire to relocate my family to London.

“I visited that place. Mr. [Roman] Abramovich and I spoke. I had a conversation with Ray Wilkins, my Milan playing partner. I’m not sure. I made the decision not to.”

Maldini revealed, prior to his retirement, that he had no intention of coaching football. Up until August 2018, when he took a job at Milan as director of sporting strategy and development, he withdrew from the sport. He rose through the ranks to become technical director in less than a year.

Maldini, however, is free after leaving the Italian company in the summer. According to a story published in The Telegraph last month, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS is thinking of giving him a job at Old Trafford after their bid to purchase a 25% share in the team is approved.

The success he experienced during his playing career following his previous unsuccessful transfer to United may make the Reds want to make sure they sign him this time.