The coach played a decisive role this summer in keeping the goalkeeper, who is now full of praise for him, fitness coach Filippi, and the Rossoneri environment. Will that be enough to seal the deal?

Max Allegri, when asked directly about this roughly a month and a half ago, flatly denied it: “It was absolutely not me who convinced Maignan to stay. It’s all thanks to Claudio Filippi, who is one of the best goalkeeper coaches around. And then to the club, which was determined to keep him.” It was the post-match press conference following the game against Roma, and the excitement from Dybala’s saved penalty was still in the air. But we’re certain that if the miracle of Mike’s renewal were to materialize, Allegri would continue to distance himself from it. And yet.

Yet, just as the Rossoneri coach actually played a crucial role in keeping the Frenchman at the club this summer, it’s reasonable to assume he’s been working behind the scenes now, at the very least to reopen the dialogue and eliminate Mike’s initial “no.” Nothing particularly forceful, mind you: a sensible coach talks to his players mainly about the game itself, tactics, and motivation, but behind the scenes, Max is somehow trying to facilitate a process that was and remains very difficult. In this context, Allegri plays a key role because the goalkeeper’s dialogue with the management, quite simply, could no longer be described as such. It was frozen (to put it mildly) by Maignan after an initial offer from Via Aldo Rossi that was later revised downward, a situation the player clearly did not appreciate. It’s worth remembering that, back in the summer, he had said yes to Chelsea. If it had been up to him alone, he would now be wearing a Blues jersey. The deal fell through because the two clubs could not agree on the transfer fee, and then Allegri personally intervened to secure the captain.

pact—  Mike wearing the captain’s armband was a legacy Allegri inherited upon his arrival and was careful not to change. Maignan has proudly retained his status, making a sort of pact with the coach and the club: we move forward together in the name of a shared goal, with the utmost seriousness, regardless of the expiring contract. A pact that, knowing Mike’s professional integrity, has reassured Milan from a sporting standpoint. But at the same time, it was also a sort of tacit agreement on a free transfer that seemed inevitable. Then the Frenchman began working with Filippi (who had previously been at Juve with Allegri), getting along very well, and over the course of the season he came to appreciate the overall improvements compared to last season’s misfortunes. All of this led him to say the following on the eve of the Super Cup match against Napoli: “This year we’re more of a team, more of a family, a group where life is good. A lot has changed; the coach and his staff have brought a sense of calm.” And then, again, on Filippi: “He has a lot of experience, a cool head, and knows how to manage a group of goalkeepers. Working with people like that is much easier. I don’t want to make comparisons, but I feel very comfortable with what he suggests in training, how he handles my personality and my issues. I’m happy; I hope it continues like this for the whole season.”

details—  They may seem like anything but mere pleasantries. Especially since Maignan isn’t one for empty pleasantries. In short, while Tare remains understandably cautious (“He likes being at Milan, and Milan likes it if Mike renews. We’re talking”), paradoxically it’s the Frenchman himself who’s painting a very positive picture of his season and his excellent relationship with the coach and goalkeeper coach. These aren’t minor details. Milan, for its part, has returned to its original renewal offer. The basic feeling is that the situation remains very complex, but perhaps not as unworkable as it was a few months ago. Meanwhile, Allegri is working behind the scenes, discreetly, partly because January is approaching. And January, for a club with a player whose contract is expiring, can be a very dangerous month.