Ahead of the 2003 Champions League final, the AC Milan camp had a moment of intervention from Paolo Maldini.
There are very few players who are closer to clubs than Maldini. He is Milan, and Milan is him. When you dedicate 30 years to one club, it is a natural situation. With almost 650 appearances for the Rossoneri, too, this fact is cemented.
The Italian saw everything in the colours, winning seven Scudetti, five Champions League titles, a Club World Cup and much more. For many Milanisti, if they were to even have a small portion of his career, it would be a dream come true.
Maldini speaks, you listen
When he returned as a sporting director, the club won another Scudetto, with a number of key signings making the difference, and it was a role that made sense for him as a natural leader.
Today, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Samuele Dalla Bona has revealed an instance where he had to get involved in an argument between Andriy Shevchenko and Pippo Inzaghi, as Calciomercato.com relays.
“In 2003, I watched the final against Juventus from the stands in Manchester. I remember an argument between Inzaghi and Shevchenko during the final training session; they exchanged insults.
“Maldini approached him and told him to stop. A true captain, he always intimidated me, to be honest.”