Those bolds parts are true but obvious points. I don't think being born a Milanista and coming though the ranks has an advantage over being an Argie who succeeded in a foreign country. two different situations that cannot be compared. if anything Zanetti had it harder.

Technically, again, it's subjective. Zanetti has always been a wall, he's up there with the best I've seen and he was quite versatile too. two leagues below Maldini? couldn't disagree more.

And Fillipo, I said the thing that separates the two is that one was in the right place, while the other wasn't. if Zanetti played all these years at Milan he'd be worshiped now. it's just bias, like it makes one less of a true Milanista if they admit an Inter player is up there with our Maldini. I can feel the sentiment but I won't let it affect my opinion.

I disagree with zedd and r7 completely and wholeheartedly. Of course if there was a strong player that played for Milan for all of his career instead of inter, he would be loved. What kind of example is that? Fernando Hierro was a very strong and loyal player too and he was considered one of the best and he didn't happen to play for a bunch of losers like Inter, he played for Real. He won everything there. But even my dead grandmother's chicken knows Maldini was a better player than the likes of Zanetti and Hierro. This was unanimous.

There still hasn't been a defender to-date one the same level as Maldini and Nesta and I'm afraid there won't be for some time to come.

This post has been edited by KillerMax: Apr 29 2013, 05:46 PM

Baresi?

Maldini, then a long gap, then Nesta, then Baresi, then everyone else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) Baresi was an absolute legend, a passion bomb, but players like Maldini are a gift to the game of football. In fact, depending on who you ask Baresi and Nesta can be swapped, but that will depend on what era that certain someone watched football.

But there is only player that made a playing position, a shirt number his own. #3 at LB.

I agree with you Max, completely. It simply does not come to just how much you've won or how long you play at a club.

@Zed - I simply disagree with you regarding Zanetti. I really don't think Maldini and him are up there, and that has nothing to do with me as a Milanista (or you). As for Zanetti being Argentinian, yes, maybe it was harder to fit in - but that's not my point. The point is, Maldini is family, he has grown with his father being a Milan player, captain and coach.

@X-O - I think Baresi was a brilliant defender for his time. Yet Maldini and Nesta are better. They are the classical defenders with all modern attributes, whereas Baresi's approach to defending belongs to a era that isn't quite actual. Costacurta as well. This is why I said Zanetti (and Hierro - a great example) are one or two leagues below Maldini.

Surely that's more of a praise of Zanetti though? Maldini had no real reason to leave, ever. Zanetti played for some pretty bad Inter teams and stuck with them despite no links to the club. In the modern game with no loyalty, Zanetti has showed incredible loyalty when he really didn;'t have to.

They're both completely different players though really for different teams with different situations. Hard to compare.

So? remember Inter are Internazionale. it's actually very fitting for them to have a foreigner in Zanetti as their captain and legend.



Castacurta as well [as Nesta and Maldini or Baresi?] (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

So that's why Maldini and Milan are special. Or you are gonna next say that Milan and Inter are practically the same, only bias makes us think Milan is better?

Costacurta with Baresi, Nesta with Maldini.

Look at it this way, he could have left to any club in the world for any amount of money. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Even when Paolo was 25 or 28, he had several offers from EPL and other leagues, on the off chance that he may change his mind. The biggest clubs in the world at that time would have paid him in gold.

Just like Ronaldo (R99) went to the biggest clubs in the world who were all too willing to splash the cash.

True. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) Makes Maldini even the more special having played in the 80s, 90s and 2000s, as opposed to Nesta who rose to prominence in the 90s. Whoever wrote Paolo's script, did a darn good job of it.

Well, Maldini had his share of bad Milan sides as well. I'm just saying, the context is awfully different.

No I wouldn't go that far (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think only Madrid made once an important offer for him, around the early 00s I think. But other than that, I'm not aware of clubs wanting to sign him, cause he was already playing for the best club in the world.

Not during the bad patch in the 90s though, those were some sick few years. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) An EPL club or two also made an inquiry. I agree though, that through most of Paolo's career we were the top dog, and considering his stature here, not many bothered to even make an attempt to sign him, because it was futile anyway.

But if he wanted to leave, and have an overseas adventure he could have, at almost any time in his career. And that too, at his own terms, and as the best defender in the world. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Point is that very much equals any special brownie points Zanetti gets for being an Argentine playing in a foreign league and showing loyalty.

Heck, Maldini could have left after 30 to play in the Middle East or the US for a truck full of money.