In his last couple of years yeah. But for those who followed him since long can feel the gap. I see Maldini's name as the biggest name in football world when it comes to defensive players.
As a marketable name yep (after all Milan as a club are mostly about marketing+whoring themselves out there as they always did). But as a defender, no doubt in my mind that there was better players, their own Baresi shits all over Maldini IMO.
I will never forget how in 2005 PSV-Milan Venegoor of Hesselink attempted an overhead kick but kicked Maldini in the head instead. I thought he has killed him.
As a marketable name yep (after all Milan as a club are mostly about marketing+whoring themselves out there as they always did). But as a defender, no doubt in my mind that there was better players, their own Baresi $#@!s all over Maldini IMO.
I catched Baresi in USA 1994 and couple of years after but didn't see him in his prime and I'm sure there's no big difference between him and Paolo. Maldini was more than just a name and loyalty, he was an amazing LB and if one is better than him then I guess he is/was slightly ahead of him because again you couldn't get much better than Paolo Maldini.
I catched Baresi in USA 1994 and couple of years after but didn't see him in his prime and I'm sure there's no big difference between him and Paolo. Maldini was more than just a name and loyalty, he was an amazing LB and if one is better than him then I guess he is/was slightly ahead of him because again you couldn't get much better than Paolo Maldini.
Let's not forget our own legends like Scirea, my father, who has been a Milan fan since the 60s said he has never seen a defender that comes close to Scirea.
Yes it looks like they'll reach last years figures when they sold 30k. Looking at bigger picture Milanese clubs 5-6 years ago sold between 45-55k. Significant change.