Fergie reveals why Man United’s move for Maldini failed
Manchester United failed to sign Paolo Maldini because his father put a stop to the move, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson made no secret of his admiration for Italy and AC Milan icon Maldini throughout their respective careers.
The legendary United manager described Maldini as an “outstanding player” in 2013, and described how he once watched him play and he “went through the entire 90 minutes without tackling”.
“That is an art and he is the master of it,” Ferguson would add. “He is a great player. You can’t dismiss the sort of experience he has.”
Both Ferguson and Maldini were at the launch event for the International Champions Cup, in which United will feature this summer, and the Scot explained how he attempted to sign the Italian years ago.
The move was thwarted by Maldini’s father, the legendary Cesare, however.
“I did try [to sign Maldini] but when I met his father he was quite formidable, I got a shake of the head,” Ferguson said.
“He said, ‘My grandfather is Milan, my father is, I am Milan, my sons are Milan. Forget it’.”
