Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has revealed what he told Mike Maignan after the former Lille goalkeeper joined AC Milan. The Rossoneri announced the Frenchman’s signing in late May after it became clear Gianluigi Donnarumma won’t extend his contract.
Maignan was nothing short of outstanding for Lille in the 2020/21 season, playing a prominent role in Les Dogues‘ imperious title run in Ligue 1. The 25-year-old’s sublime form at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy has earned him a reputation as one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe’s top-five divisions.
Although he seemed close to joining Tottenham Hotspur as Hugo Lloris’ long-term replacement, Maignan eventually moved to the San Siro to fill the vacancy left by Donnarumma’s impending departure. Despite Milan’s relentless efforts to tie the young keeper down to a new contract, Mino Raiola’s influence on the player has priced them out of the deal.
Meanwhile, Maignan’s jaw-dropping performances for Lille have seen Didier Deschamps hand him an international call-up for the upcoming Euro finals. The French Guiana native will share the pitch with Juventus midfielder Rabiot at the final tournament, though he is expected to play understudy to the first-choice keeper Lloris.
Away on international duty with France, Rabiot offered his opinion about Maignan’s move to Juve’s arch-rivals Milan.
“I had no role in Maignan’s arrival in Italy. There were many rumors, I simply told him it would be good for him, especially in a team like Milan that has been reborn in recent seasons,” Rabiot said as relayed by MilanNews.
“Maignan is a hard worker, very ambitious, and always has a great desire to improve. He will do very well in Italy.“