"Milan? I hope we return as late as possible and then we will talk to the coach and Maignan" - the phrase uttered by Adrien Rabiot on July 18 at the end of the World Cup for France turned out to be more than a joke; he and goalkeeper Maignan were expected to arrive at Milanello on August 12 to resume training after the summer tournament, but they requested and received permission from the club to extend their vacation until August 16 and will return a week before the start of the championship.
A choice that made a lot of noise, especially due to the fact that this summer for Milan is complex and under the sign of a deep restructuring, as there is a new coach on the bench who needs to be recognized and a team that needs to be led and reborn in terms of sports, especially because most of the players from Spain, Argentina, England and France have already returned to their respective teams and the others will do so in the coming days.
This is an unpleasant situation with a strong media impact, especially at a time when figures with more experience and charisma should guarantee an extra contribution and not extend their vacations, and at this point, Milan fans have not hidden their anger and frustration.
On social media, the red and black fans were especially harsh on Maignan, whose captaincy was questioned due to his absence from Franco Baresi's funeral. 'Being a captain means being present, especially in moments when everything has to start from the outside' - was one of the most successful comments, while others want to strip Maignan of the captaincy and give it to Luka Modric.
Beyond the symbolic aspect, the commitment to perform and the absences in training sessions, the issue also creates space for deeper doubts; is there any dissatisfaction hidden behind the behavior of Maignan and Rabiot? Is it the classic dissatisfaction of the transfer market? Logic suggests that a motivated footballer, with the desire to restart everything after a negative season and happy in his environment, tries to bring his return to the team closer and not postpone it...
Fans fear that behind this extended break lies a desire for a change of scenery and, moreover, Allegri would welcome Rabiot with open arms to Napoli, while Juventus are looking for a goalkeeper. But it must be said that neither player has so far made a request to leave the red and black club that considers them two pillars of the present and future. Maignan signed a contract extension in January until 2031, while Rabiot's will expire in 2028. On Sunday, the two Frenchmen will return and the first challenge will be to win back the hearts of the Milan fans, so it remains to be seen how they will be received when they arrive at Milanello. /TCH
