Tension in Milan as Maignan and Rabiot Delay Return

Ruben Amorim has barely set foot in Milan and already understands the size of the job in front of him. Less than two weeks before the new Serie A season kicks off, his squad is incomplete, his plans are on hold, and his captain is still on holiday.

Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot, two of the most influential figures in the dressing room, have chosen to extend their breaks following the 2026 World Cup. They were expected back at Milanello on August 14. Instead, they will report on August 16 – exactly seven days before Milan open their Serie A campaign against Torino.

For a new coach trying to install ideas, rhythm and hierarchy, those 48 hours feel like much more.

Amorim’s Start Complicated

Amorim arrives with the promise of a fresh cycle and a more aggressive, modern Milan. But as the days tick down, the reality is stark: the squad is not yet trimmed, reinforcements are delayed, and the futures of key players remain unresolved.

Rafael Leao’s situation hangs over everything. The club may need to sell before buying, and there is still no guarantee the Portuguese forward will be in red and black when the transfer window closes. Until outgoing deals are done, Amorim’s room to manoeuvre is limited.

Now, even the certainties look less certain.

Rabiot publicly committed during the World Cup to returning to Milan, meeting Amorim and “going again” in 2026-27. His stance appears steady, his absence framed as a longer but still planned break after a deep run with France.

Maignan’s case feels different. And Milan know it.

Maignan’s Silence Speaks Loudest

The goalkeeper, currently wearing the captain’s armband, has given several subtle but pointed signals of dissatisfaction with life at San Siro.

He has removed all pictures and references to Milan from his social media profiles, a modern gesture that rarely happens by accident. Inside the club, that kind of move is never treated as a trivial detail. It hints at distance, at least emotionally, between player and institution.

Then came another jolt. When the legendary Franco Baresi was laid to rest last week, Maignan was not among those present. For a captain, for a club that lives on its history and its icons, that absence did not go unnoticed. Eyebrows rose. Questions followed.

No official explanation has emerged, no public confrontation, no statement. Just silence, extended holidays, and a growing sense that all is not well between Milan and one of their most important players.

Fans Look Across the City

The reaction among sections of the Rossoneri support has been sharp. Some fans have openly questioned the timing of the decision, especially when they look across the city.

Inter’s Lautaro Martinez and John Stones, who also went deep into the World Cup, are already back in first-team training under Cristian Chivu. Their early return has become an immediate point of comparison, a stick with which to beat Milan’s stars and, by extension, the club’s current mood.

The optics are not kind. Inter’s leaders are back, working, visible. Milan’s captain and senior midfielder are still away, days before a new era is supposed to begin.

A Fragile Pre-Season Balance

For Amorim, the margins are thin. Pre-season is where pressing triggers are drilled, build-up patterns rehearsed, and relationships on the pitch forged. A week is enough to regain fitness, but not always enough to absorb a new tactical language, especially for players expected to set the standard.

Rabiot’s return should at least bring clarity in midfield. His experience and personality are central to what Milan hope to build this season, and his stated commitment offers some reassurance.

Maignan’s return, however, will be watched far more closely. Every gesture at Milanello, every word in front of cameras, every interaction with teammates and staff will be scrutinised for clues about his state of mind and his long-term intentions.

The calendar does not wait. Torino loom on the opening weekend, the transfer window is still open, and the new coach is trying to project calm authority while key pillars of his project remain in flux.

Milan wanted this summer to mark a fresh start. Instead, as the season approaches, the biggest question is not about tactics, signings or systems.

It is whether their captain truly still sees his future at San Siro.