MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Mike Maignan of AC Milan celebrates after the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Mike Maignan has remained loyal to his club and international colleague Adrien Rabiot, who spoke out against the Milan-Como Serie A match to be played in Australia this February: “I totally agree with him.”
Milan players continue to oppose the Como match being played in Australia
Earlier last week, UEFA confirmed that it had granted a one-off permit for the Serie A match between Milan and Como, scheduled for February 8, 2026, to be played in Perth, Australia.
The match was initially due to be played at San Siro, but on that date the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza will be busy with preparations for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games.
The decision to play the match abroad has been met with some reaction from fans in Italy. Some players have also taken a stance against the game being played overseas, let alone in Australia.
Rabiot was the first of the Milan squad to make a public comment on the matter, claiming that the decision was made for purely economic reasons and that the matter is ‘over our heads’.
Rabiot’s observations, in turn, got a response from Lega Serie A executive director Luigi De Siervowho told the Frenchman to “have more respect for the money you earn and be more accommodating to your employer.”
Maignan, who works in the media with the French team, has since expressed his opinion on the matter and has supported his Milan and international teammate.
“I totally agree with him. I don’t understand why we play abroad,” Maignan said (via Sky Sport Italia).
“It’s an Italian league match, it should have been played at home. Now we ‘lose’ a match at home.
“We have ambitious goals, we cannot leave anything to chance. It is crazy to travel so many kilometers to play a match between two Italian teams. There has been a lot of talk about the schedules and the well-being of the players. But, as always, we have to adapt.”