POLL: Paolo Maldini To Red Bulls

By: Dave Martinez | February 5th, 2010

paolo-maldini-20070209-209137 Several Italian outlets are reporting this morning Italian great and Milan legend Paolo Maldini has agreed, in principal, to play for the Red Bulls through the 2010 season. Reports are quoting a Designated Player deal has been offered totaling around $6 million a year.

Maldini, 41, recently retired from AC Milan, is coming off of a strong year with the rossoneri (their defense was one of the stingiest in Serie A). He was a starter for one of the worlds largest clubs in one of the worlds most respected leagues.

Though this rumor has surfaced many times in the past, this is the first time we see an actual agreement possibly taking shape. Not saying that it is true, since the Italian media tends to jump the gun at times on reports like these, but it is still the most solid link between both this club and this player in years.

Of course, this news comes in the wake of Thierry Henry’s recent denials regarding an imminent move to the Red Bulls.

Somewhere, Gianfranco of the AC Milan Offside blog, who worships Paolo every “Maldini Monday,” is smiling.

Here is today’s poll: What do you think about a possible Maldini signing?

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NoLayupRule

LOL at Maldini playing in Canada. Also LOL at more Italians in Canada than the US. Probably less than NY even.
NoLayupRule

unreal!! Palo in NY would be incredible. I dont understand why he would do it though since he could still play in Serie A if he had desire.

I saw him in NY about a month ago and said hi but never considered a connection!
BigDawg4Milan

Honestly he should come to Toronto FC if he was to play in the MLS.

Canada has the largest population of Italians and people of Italian decent outside of Italy. He would be at home and revered. Not to mention I would immediately get season tickets to all of TFC's matches.

I'm pretty sure though that his retirement wasn't from playing football in Europe...but playing professional football anywhere!
Gianfranco

His father Cesare has denied the rumors in a more trustworth Italian newsworth, who was oddly enough pulling it via twitter...so what is stranger a good media outlet using twitter as fact, or an old man tweeting!?? This just gets worse...
Gianfranco

My first reaction was that of sheer joy, seeing Paolo play anywhere is pretty important to me, but then seeing Matt's comment got my wheels turning. Even a title in RBNY wouldnt change the fact that his career is synomous with Milan, but the one team man luster would certainly lose some steam. Back in the Metro's days Franco Baresi was supposed to be en route in the summer of 97 or 98 and this was one of the issues that was brought up by then Metro's man Charlie Stillitano who was run out of town either before or after the failed move, maybe Dave knows better, because of his pursuit of another Italian Legend, Roberto Baggio.

In the end I always felt as though Metros and Italians, specifically Milanistas, should go hand in hand, and there is no reason RBNY can't do the same, but this move is really making me think...I was already a RBNY fan, so this won't sway me either way, but would it help in the NJ contigent??
dave martinez

Matt - I can't argue there bud!
matt

Admittedly, no. But Pele's tour at Cosmos took place before I was born, while I grew up idolizing Maldini. So it's not entirely rational.
dave martinez

To counter that point, Matt, do u feel any lesser of Pele for joining the Cosmos? He is stillregarded a Santos legend.
matt

I'm going to argue against signing Maldini for a very different reason. While he's still more than capable of shutting down opposing players in Serie A (even more so in the MLS), he's been, to this point, a one team player. There's something about Maldini, and his dedication to Milan, that I feel would be sullied by a move to any other club, even after retirement.