Milan legend Paolo Maldini is being considered for the Sporting Director role at Premier League club Newcastle United. United, owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF, are bidding farewell to their current director, Dan Ashworth, who is set to depart for Manchester United in the coming months.
Currently on leave for personal reasons, Ashworth’s departure comes amidst ongoing negotiations between Newcastle and United, a deal complicated by a contract expiring in 2026. Newcastle’s demand of over £20 million contrasts with the £10 million offered by the Red Devils.
As the search for a replacement commences, reports from the English site Inews suggest that Newcastle are eyeing Maldini. Having vacated his role as technical director of Milan last summer, Maldini emerges as a prominent contender. However, he is not the sole candidate under consideration. Also in contention is Hugo Viana, the current sporting director of Sporting Lisbon and a former player for Newcastle.
While Paul Mitchell, formerly of Southampton and now with Tottenham, appears to be Newcastle’s primary target, other names in the mix include Rui Pedro of Benfica and former Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto.
