Paolo Maldini has rejected the possibility of joining Carlo Ancelotti in an undefined role at Chelsea.
The Chelsea manager had explored the idea of his former AC Milan team-mate and captain taking up a new position of general manager at the club, but Maldini, 40, is intent on taking a break from the game after ending his 24-year playing career last month and has no desire to leave Italy.
Ancelotti was concerned about being isolated in London after his former No 2, Filippo Galli, also chose to stay at the San Siro as an assistant to Leonardo, the new Milan coach. However, the Italian is now happy with the coaching structure at Chelsea and has no plans to recruit further.
Instead, the manager has called for a bigger role to be given to Frank Arnesen, Chelsea’s director of scouting and youth development, whom he considers to be an excellent operator and intends to use as a sounding board regarding transfers.
Ancelotti will recognise at least one familiar face when he arrives at the club for pre-season training next month. Andriy Shevchenko, 32, has been told that he must return to Stamford Bridge. Milan announced yesterday that they have no wish to extend the Ukraine striker’s loan for another year and he faces the humiliating prospect of spending another season on the sidelines at Chelsea.
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Deco, the 31-year-old Portugal midfield player who was signed last summer, is keen to avoid a similar fate and confirmed his desire yesterday to be reunited with Jos? Mourinho, the Inter Milan coach, whom he played under at Porto.
“I want to feel happy and this is not the case at Chelsea,” Deco said. “I want to find a club where I can again take joy from playing. Of course I would like to return to work with Mourinho, he is synonymous with success and I would be very happy.”