Daniel Maldini debuted with the Italian national team in the 4th round of the Nations League match against Israel (4-1) in Udine. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder co-authored a unique achievement. For the first time in history, representatives of three generations of the same family played in the Squadra Azzurra. This fact is a reason to get to know Maldini Jr. better. He is not yet as famous in Russia as his father Paolo.
In fact, the Maldinis are a family of outstanding defenders. Grandfather Cesare, Paolo and even Daniel’s older brother, Christian, played defense. Cesare, as a Milan footballer, made his debut for the Italian national team in January 1960. He played 14 games and appeared in the 1962 World Cup. Paolo had an even more impressive career with the national team after making his debut in March 1988 as a defender for Milan. He played 126 games, participated in four World Cups and three European Championships, became captain and played in the 1998 World Cup under the direction of his father.
Paolo probably hoped that his eldest son, Christian, would continue the family tradition in the Italian national team. But the defender, raised by Milan himself, did not succeed: he played for Italian teams far from the best, Reggiana, Pro Sesto, Lecco and others, and last year he retired at the age of 27. But Daniel turned out to have more talent or simply a stronger character as an athlete.
Maldini Jr. also went through the Milan academy from a young age until graduating. But, unlike the rest of the family, he decided to become not a defender, but a player in the attacking group. His strongest qualities are related to creation: field vision, ball control, dribbling. Daniel was called up to youth and youth teams, however, he was not seen as a key player in any of them. In seven matches with Italian teams of different ages, the attacking midfielder scored one goal: against England.
In February 2020, at the age of 18, Daniel played for the first time with Milan’s main team in a Serie A match against Verona. It was a purely symbolic debut, as Maldini appeared on the field a minute before the end. That season he participated in two matches in the Italian championship.
For three seasons, Daniel was brought to the Milan base. His profile includes 24 appearances for the Rossoneri in various tournaments, including the Champions League, but Maldini actually spent only around 500 minutes on the pitch and only appeared in the starting XI five times. The only effective action was a goal by Spezia in Serie A in the fall of 2021.
Maldini repeated the achievement of his grandfather and father, winning the league title with Milan. Only as a reservist. Everyone understood, including, without a doubt, Paolo, that Daniel was not yet a player at the level of the best team in Italy. Coach Stefano Pioli said:
“The most important characteristic of Daniel Maldini is that he has talent. He is technical, he reads the game well, but he needs to get rid of marking faster and with more intensity. But in the future it is capable of giving results and should only improve.”
DANIEL MALDINI
Photo: Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
For the 2022/2023 season, Daniel was loaned to Spezia, with whom he scored his only goal in Milan. The curious thing is that for “Spezia” Maldini scored for the first time in the Italian Championship in a match… against Milan! It is true that his goal did not save the team from the 1-2 defeat at San Siro. Then the Rossoneri graduate also hit Inter’s goal. However, despite this, in “Spice” Daniel also did not become a solid base player. He played 18 games in Serie A and scored two goals. He scored another goal in the Italian Cup. And “Spezia” finally left the elite, losing in battles.
Maldini started last season on loan at Empoli. But he missed half of the first round due to injury and before the winter window opened he only played seven games without scoring. In January 2024, Daniel left for Monza and this move turned out to be the best decision for him and the Maldini family so far.
The attacking midfielder had a good streak, adding 4+1 in 10 games. After the loan, Daniel remained at Monza, joining this club as a free agent. His father left Milan amid a conflict with the new owner after five years as technical director, so there was nothing keeping Maldini Jr. there.
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In March of this year, information appeared that the Venezuelan national team wanted to play for Daniel. The attacking midfielder had the right to choose between two national teams. His mother is the Venezuelan model Adriana Fossa. Thus, the Milan graduate could become the first representative of the Maldini family in the Venezuelan national team, and not a continuer of traditions in the Squadra Azzurra. But apparently the prospect of playing for a not-so-prominent South American team did not inspire Daniel.
If you thought you would still make it to the Italian team, you were right! In October, Luciano Spalletti called up Maldini for Nations League matches. Although it cannot be said that the attacking midfielder had outstanding statistics in the new season: Daniel scored one goal and gave one assist in seven Serie A games.
“This is the player we were missing,” Spalletti explained about his choice. “He has a great style of play, he knows how to get away from defenders and then it is difficult to catch him. He knows how to play with his back to the goal. “He can be a little quiet on the field at times, but I’ve seen him play consistently and I think he’s made a lot of progress.”
DANIEL MALDINI
Photo: Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The parents watched Daniel’s debut in the Italian national team from the stands. In his first 20 minutes with the national team, Maldini touched the ball 20 times and missed once. Of his 17 transmissions, 14 reached the recipient. By the way, in Monza this season the attacking midfielder is the best in shots (11), successes (6), dribbles (12), fouls committed (20) and second in duels won (49 with a 57% success rate). These are the statistics that motivated Spalletti to invite Maldini.
Daniel’s idol is former Milan star Kaká. It is quite natural that Paolo Maldini did not, because the Brazilian great was also an attacking midfielder. Another newcomer to the Italian team is Paulo Dybala.
Milan are surely also happy with Maldini Jr.’s debut in the Italian team. In the end, the Club kept 50% of the amount of the future resale of Daniel “Monzei”. According to rumors, Juventus have already set their eyes on the attacking midfielder.
