Milan star Mike Maignan not only boasts top-class goalkeeping skills, but he is also a reliable deep-lying playmaker. On the evidence of last night’s 3-1 home win against Frosnine, the Frenchman uses his feet like a midfielder.
As confirmed by Christian Pulisic, who benefitted from Maignan’s delightful long ball, Milan practice this type of play in training. And it wasn’t the first time the 28-year-old set up his outfield teammates for a goal. In fact, it’s become his trademark.
Maignan has racked up an assist across each of the last three Serie A campaigns. The San Siro faithful still remembers his inch-perfect cross-field pass to Rafael Leao that helped Milan beat Sampdoria 1-0 in the 2021/22 season.
Last season’s home win against Lazio proved it wasn’t a one-off. Maignan was on the assist sheet again as Rossoneri toppled Maurizio Sarri’s side 2-0 en route to clinching a vital triumph in their bid to secure a top-four finish. Some say the lightning doesn’t strike twice.
However, Maignan has done it three seasons in a row now. In doing so, the Milan talisman has become the first keeper in Serie A since 2004/05 to register three assists. What’s more impressive – every time he claimed one, Rossoneri ended up winning three points.
Not even Manchester City’s Ederson and Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen come near the Milan #1. Despite being considered the world’s most skilled goalkeepers, they lag behind the former Lille stopper.
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