Paolo Maldini left AC Milan as technical director on Tuesday after a reported dispute with new ownership group RedBird Capital.
The club confirmed his departure, thanking him for his years of service and contributions to their return to the Champions League and Scudetto win in 2021-22.
What happened?
Maldini's departure comes after a brief meeting with Gerry Cardinale, founder of RedBird Capital, who reportedly fired him and sporting director Frederic Massara.
The Rossoneri qualified for next season's Champions League by finishing in fourth place in Serie A, but fell short of defending their title.
Why it matters for Paolo Maldini
Maldini was a key figure in reviving the club, helping them navigate a ban from European football for Financial Fair Play violations and signing players like Ibrahimovic and Rafael Leao.
He played an active role in player recruitment and helped the team achieve results with a tight budget.
What comes next?
The dressing room reacted badly to the news of Maldini's firing, according to Milan insider Daniele Longo.
Manager Stefano Pioli is reportedly set to remain in charge, with his contract running until June 2025.
Maldini had openly disagreed with the direction of RedBird Capital, calling for further investment during a recent interview with CBS Sports.
He returned to Milan in June 2018 as development director before taking on more responsibility in the sporting and technical fields.
Maldini and Massara helped bring the club closer to break-even status by achieving results with a tight budget.
In May 2021, Milan qualified for the Champions League for the first time in seven years, and last season won the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years.
Maldini also helped re-sign key players on expiring contracts, including defenders Theo Hernandez, Fikayo Tomori, and Pierre Kalulu.
The club's statement confirmed that Maldini's day-to-day duties will be performed by a team working in close integration with the first-team manager, ultimately reporting to the CEO.