AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan has drawn the ire of the club's fanbase following a series of events that began with his delayed return to training after the World Cup. Maignan, who was part of the France squad that finished fourth in the tournament held across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, was granted extra vacation time alongside teammate Adrien Rabiot. This absence occurred amidst reports of player dissatisfaction regarding the departures of former manager Max Allegri and director Igli Tare last season.
Tensions escalated after Maignan wiped his Instagram account, removing all references to AC Milan. The goalkeeper eventually broke his silence with a cryptic post featuring holiday photographs, including one of him swimming with sharks. The caption read: “Reset! We take mountains of risks, but at the summit, it hurts so much. ALIVE!”
The post further irritated supporters by including a cartoon depicting the story of Nasreddin Hodja and his donkey. The moral of the shared story focused on prioritizing one's own values over the criticisms of others. This message was met with sarcasm from fans who suggested the goalkeeper was in no rush to assist the team or support new coach Ruben Amorim.
As the Rossoneri prepare for their first official Serie A match against Torino next weekend, the backlash has intensified. Many fans have taken to social media to openly criticize Maignan, with some going as far as urging the club to strip him of the captain’s armband and hand the leadership role to Luka Modric instead.
