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12 Milan legend Paolo Maldini admits the Ballon d’Or was not a target for him as a footballer but he rejected a call-up to Italy national team in 2006 due to knee problems and because he didn’t want to ‘be a burden.’
The former Milan defender and director released an interview with Radio Serie A on Thursday, during which he went through his career as a footballer with the Rossoneri and Italy national team.
The legendary defender was named Milan’s captain in 1997.
“I was 29, and I had been playing for Milan for 13 years, being the national team captain for three,” he recalled.
“I was accustomed to that role, but doing it daily at Milan was different because there were many responsibilities. I didn’t talk much; it’s a demanding role, and you have many things to learn.”
Maldini spent his entire career at Milan, making 902 appearances with the Rossoneri and becoming one of the most successful footballers in history with seven Serie A titles and five Champions League among his trophies.
“The first one was unforgettable, but the trophies are all well-spread over 20 years,” he said.
“The one we won in Manchester [against Juventus] came nine years after the previous one. Perhaps it was the most desired because I was the captain, and I hadn’t won one for a while.”
Who are the best footballers he played with?
“In terms of moral strength, Franco Baresi was an amazing footballer. He didn’t talk. He acted and he was perfect. I also played with Marco Van Basten, and I played with great players in negative seasons,” Maldini replied.
“Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are the most technically gifted players I’ve ever seen, but they arrived at the end of their careers. To play against Ronaldo at Inter was really tough. He would not stop. Rules were not as strict as today. We could use physicality more, but he was huge, fast and technically gifted.”
Maldini has no Ballon d’Or or Madrid regrets
Maldini also admitted he had thought about leaving Milan and that Real Madrid once made an offer to sign him.
“It’s hard to say no [to Madrid], but it can only happen if you are unhappy at Milan and in those years, Milan were the reference point,” he admitted.
“There were difficult moments [at Milan] and I was embittered sometimes, but it always pushed me to try to improve things. If a player wants to leave, the club must want to sell and another club must make an offer. These three things never arrived at the same time.”
The ex-defender admitted that winning the Ballon d’Or was never a target for him and doesn’t have any regrets about not winning the World Cup with Italy in 2006.
Maldini didn’t want to be a ‘burden’ to Italy
“I don’t think about the injustices in my career [the Ballon d’Or] is an individual award that was not among my targets.
“I played in four World Cups. In 2006 Marcello Lippi talked to me, but I had started having problems with my knee, and I was struggling to play twice a week for Milan,” continued the former defender.
“I wanted to preserve my body without being a burden. I had already said no to Trapattoni in 2004 and it didn’t feel right to say no to him and yes to Lippi. Perhaps we wouldn’t have won if I were in the team, so it was okay like this.”
During the same interview, Maldini also praised Inter directors for their title-winning campaign and admitted he no longer watches Rossoneri games at San Siro.
