Gabbia Breaks Milan Protocol to Urge Maignan to Stay

The contract standoff at Milan

Milan officials have stated they will not push French goalkeeper Mike Maignan to renew his contract. The star’s position at the club is unusual, with his current deal running out at the end of the season (summer 2026) while the club reportedly rejected several offers to sell him last summer, Chelsea among the interested clubs.

The next steps and Gabbia's public plea

The star finds himself in a delicate position, with the deal set to expire in 2026 and no clear path to renewal, while the club reportedly spurned offers to buy him last year, Chelsea among the bidders.

Igli Tari, Milan's sporting director, said last week that the club had reached an agreement with Maignan and his representatives to wait until the season's end and avoid pressuring either side.

Nevertheless, Matteo Gabbia, Milan's defender, went against the club's approach by publicly urging the goalkeeper to extend and stay as long as possible.

Gabbia posted on Instagram, Please sign, a direct appeal to Maignan for a renewal.

If the parties decide to part ways at the end of the season, Maignan would be the second world-class Milan goalkeeper to leave on a free transfer after Gianluigi Donnarumma's move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Notably, Maignan had joined Milan as a replacement for the Italian international, coming from Lille for 16.4 million euros.

Punchline 1: If contracts grew on trees, Milan would have a forest by now.

Punchline 2: And if patience paid, Tari would be paid in gold for all this waiting.