Mike Maignan, respected leader and beloved goalkeeper at Milan

This Sunday evening at San Siro, Mike Maignan will set foot on the pitch he has occupied all season with his club, AC Milan. For more than three years, he has become a captain, adored by supporters as much for his performances as for his attitude. And this even if he had dropped a critical sentence on the Italian selections in September.

In the gloom surrounding the Blues and their performance, he is one of the only ones to be consistent, to stay the course. Against Israel, Mike Maignan was hardly called upon but was able to capture the only opposing shot on target. He could have done better on certain goals conceded in the Nations League (like in the first leg against Israel) but, in this team which is swaying, he remains straight. After 27 caps, he made 15 clean sheets and therefore kept a clean sheet in 56% of his matches.

Excellent during the Euro, Maignan conquered the French public and was unanimously unanimous in his position, as is the case in Italy since his signing for AC Milan in 2021. “We consider him one of the most strong in the world, supports Manuele Baiocchini journalist at Sky Sport Italia. The Italians like players like Maignan who play well and talk less. They like his character too, very introverted and a little special.

A superficial introvert, it's true. The former Lille resident does not like to express himself in public and in the media. But in the locker room, Mike Maignan is another man. Some teammates, during the Euro, pointed out that “when Mike speaks, everyone listens”. Respected, charismatic, he especially made the walls shake after the Blues' 3-1 defeat in the first leg against Italy, attacking certain attitudes of his teammates.

Spalletti took note of Maignan's criticisms

In his speech, he even explained that barely two Italians would have a place in the French team, which came to the ears of the Squadra Azzura coach, Luciano Spalletti. “It won't be easy, because we are facing strong opponents, I was even told that only two or three of our players could play in these selections,” smiled the Mister a few days ago. But this episode did not rush the fans, who could offer him an ovation when he entered the San Siro this evening, his club stadium.

“We appreciate his way of challenging big teams in big matches,” says Manuele Baiocchini. France has a lot of high-level players so I think Maignan has not strayed too far from reality at the moment. Besides, the Italian national team has demonstrated that football is not just one or two. two players. It’s a team sport.” That of the Blues will still count on its goalkeeper this evening who, with his 27 selections, has joined the Top 10 of the most capped French goalkeepers.