Milan captain Paolo Maldini has been presented with an award as Italian Sportsman of the Year.
Maldini retired this past summer from the Italian national team after the controversial second round elimination at the World Cup finals by co-hosts South Korea.
The left-back or central defender was man of the match in Milan’s 2-1 weekend victory over Parma.
He and his team-mates face two major tests in the next week which could define their season: Milan face Internazionale in the San Siro derby on Saturday then Real Madrid in the Champions League second group phase next Tuesday.
Milan, however, are also looking ahead to a post-Maldini era and are considering bids for Lazio’s Dutchman Jaap Stam and Manchester United’s Frenchman Mickael Silvestre.
By Keir Radnedge
