Milan captain Paolo Maldini has admitted that he may consider ending his career this summer if his knee problems persist.

The veteran, in his 23rd season with the San Siro outfit, has been suffering with fitness issues for some time and suffered a fresh setback against Inter on March 11 when he picked up another meniscus injury.

“The knee that I operated last year is doing well, but the other is now more or less in the same situation as the one that underwent surgery,” said Maldini on Tuesday.

“If things continue like this then it will be almost impossible to continue.

“Furthermore, this season has been far more intense as far as the number of games and the minutes played compared to last term.

“I have started this week well, working with the team despite the problems I had after the derby. We will see what happens.”

Although the 38-year-old wants to be as much use as possible to his beloved Rossoneri, he has accepted that he’s unable to stop the sands of time.

“I have also seen doctor Martens this week and he told me that I can forget about playing two games in a row,” he added.

“As for whether or not I will have to undergo more knee surgery, that depends on the swelling.”

Milan are confronted with a frantic end to the season and immediately face a couple of massive tasks when they will visit Roma and then host Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

“I hope to be available for Roma or I would like to at least be on the bench,” continued the former Italy captain.

“Bayern are the same tough opponent as always, physically very strong, but I am optimistic about the Champions League.

“At this stage of the season Milan must show what they can do and we can’t be satisfied just yet. We must do even more than what we have done so far.

"As to finishing in fourth, it is closer than it was at the beginning of the season. It remains our minimum objective…”

Football Italia

sad...but the signs are saying to hang up your boots maldini

This is bad (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Milan without Maldini .. I have never known one (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Neither did I. As I once mentioned I was born just one day before Paolos first cap for us. It's sad, really sad to see this happen. But we all knew this day would come. And I honestly belief he should go now with honor, as the great player he still is. He doesn't deserve to sit on the bench, because he became to slow.

Yeah .. Though he still is very important to the team, as much he is to me, I wouldnt want him to sit one minute on that bench ! Milan should win the CL for him, he has to lift that trophy one last time before he retieres (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Even then I wouldnt be happy

LOL but trust me he wont cuz he just said that he will play on

I guess it would be the worst day of my life as a Rossoneri fan...

I think he is virtually crumbling physically. If he can only play every other game then we desperately need to recruit a new world-class CB for next season. The idea that because such a legend is still playing we can't get someone new when we obviously do is now holding us back and I am afraid to say, not in the best interests of the club. If he can play every other game, plus still get injuredintermittently as he will do, then how many games can he play in a season. Not enough, in my view, for him to be justified as or first XI CB, and hence a new one needs to be purchased asap.

The question left is can Maldini be content with next season on the bench the majority of the time, or is this simply unfitting for such a great? Then again, if he leaves this season, chances are he will leave empty handed- please don't try and convince me we are going to win CL, I would eat my hat if we did.

I think, unless the unthinkable occurs, and we win the CL this season, then he should play one more season, predominantly as a 1st change CB for one of the 2 centre backs- Nesta and whoever elseis recruited, and hope we win something. Either way, then, physically, he will simply have to retire. Billy did it, saw his CB berth go to younger players, and for longer than the one season I am advocating Maldini do it for. If he ends up playing on for one more season, and consequently us not buying a new world-class CB to be the starting CB alongside Nesta, his injuries and fragile physical state will mean the likes of Bonera are persistently filling in for him, probably playing 2/3 to 3/4 of the season there, and although he has impressed me at CB, I still don't think he is of quite high enough quality to play there so regularly.

Sad times I know, but it is this, or he could have retired two or three years ago say-2005, after that final.