In a heartfelt outburst that has resonated across the football world, former AC Milan star and director Leonardo has expressed his deep disappointment over the club's decision to part ways with legendary figure Paolo Maldini. "It hurts," Leonardo confessed, emphasizing that no algorithm or data-driven decision could ever replace what Maldini brings to the Rossoneri.
The timing of these comments couldn't be more telling. Despite a blistering start to the season, Milan now finds themselves locked in a tense battle for a Champions League spot. Back-to-back defeats against Sassuolo and Atalanta have left the Rossoneri level on 67 points with Roma, occupying the precarious fourth position with just two games remaining. The frustration among fans has reached a boiling point, with CEO Giorgio Furlani facing calls to step down following a dramatic 3-2 loss to Atalanta at San Siro.
Maldini, a cornerstone of Milan's identity for three decades, played a pivotal role in the club's 2021-22 Scudetto triumph as a director. However, his tenure was cut short in a surprising sacking just a year later, and he has yet to return to football in an official capacity.
"If you have Paolo Maldini at Milan, I don't know what kind of algorithm could tell me it's better not to have him," Leonardo remarked in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio. "It doesn't just hurt me not to see him there; it hurts everyone. Paolo belongs in the world of football. There are no figures in today's game as complete as he is. He developed himself over time, becoming a top-level executive, successful at the club where he spent 30 years."
Leonardo, who appointed Maldini as a director in the summer of 2018, believes the legend still has much to offer. "I'm sure Paolo still has a lot to give. Today, there is a very political, very complex and archaic structure that sometimes prevents this from happening. What is needed, beyond ideas, expertise, and desire, is someone who can inspire people and make them believe there is something beautiful worth chasing. It's difficult to find a figure capable of conveying that idea unanimously. I see very few people with those qualities, and Paolo, perhaps, is the only one."
As Milan prepares for their final two Serie A matches—away at Genoa and at home to Cagliari—the shadow of Maldini's absence looms large. For fans and former players alike, the message is clear: some things in football simply can't be quantified or replaced.