QUOTE (X-Offender @ Nov 1 2013, 04:46 AM)
Maybe. Perhaps Maldini gave his best during the 90s and early 00s, when I didn't watch football and was too little to understand.
He did, he indubitably did. (IMG:
style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Even though he is my most favorite player ever, just ahead of Ronaldo, his best was 80s and 90s. Two decades of awesomeness. The remaining yeas were golden too, and he never for once felt like he lost the touch. But as I feared you just had not seen the icon at his absolute prime.
I like to think Maldini as a gift to the game of football, he truly has been. There was a recent TV series 'Football's Greatest', very well made, and it ranked the top 25 players of all time. Only one Italian. Guess who? (IMG:
style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) The only player who made a number, his playing position his own. There never will be another LB, ever, that touches Paolo.
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Nov 1 2013, 04:46 AM)
But ever since we signed Nesta in 2002 and until he left us, I will always remember him as the greatest defender I have ever witnessed.
Oh, that's perfectly fine. (IMG:
style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You saw him, you know him as the greatest defender. But Nesta and Paolo have been the closest of friends, and in multiple interviews I have seen Nesta saying that Maldini was way ahead of him. Then again like I said, you can take any other defender (save for a few legends), and Nesta will be way ahead.
I'd suggest watching a full length documentary DVD of Paolo. (IMG:
style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Name is Paolo Maldini - Il Film.
(IMG:
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4667/472big.jpg)