Daniel Maldini's Euphoria Turns to Turmoil After Police Investigation
Daniel Maldini’s weekend swung from euphoria to turmoil in the space of a few hours – from match-winner on the pitch to the subject of a police investigation on the streets of Milan.
On Saturday, the attacking midfielder on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta delivered the decisive moment against his parent club, sealing a 2-1 victory and underlining his growing influence in Sardinia. By the early hours of Sunday, the narrative had flipped.
Late-night crash in Milan
In Milan, Maldini’s Porsche Carrera 4 was involved in a collision with another vehicle in the early hours. The impact left six people, including the 24-year-old, with minor injuries. All were taken for medical checks, and Maldini was later released from a local hospital after precautionary examinations.
The incident immediately triggered a police response at the scene. Milan city police confirmed to BBC Sport that Maldini was subjected to a breathalyser test as officers assessed his fitness to drive. The consequences followed on the spot.
“Mr Maldini was administered a breathalyser test at the scene,” police said, adding that his driving licence was confiscated after a positive result.
Reports from the scene stated that Maldini was well over Italy’s legal alcohol limit of 0.5 grams per litre. An initial reading showed 0.91 g/l, with a second test returning 0.89 g/l – almost double the permitted threshold for drivers in the country.
Cagliari close ranks around their playmaker
As the legal process began to take shape, Cagliari moved quickly to protect and support a player who has become important to their season. Maldini has made six appearances across all competitions so far, scoring twice and helping to ignite their recent upturn in form.
With speculation building around his condition and conduct, the Sardinian club issued a statement aimed at calming the noise and keeping the focus, as much as possible, on football.
The Rossoblu confirmed that Maldini had “undergone toxicological screening following recent media reports” and stressed that “all tests returned negative results”. The club also made it clear that, from a sporting standpoint, he remains in their plans: the playmaker is expected to rejoin the squad for training on Monday as normal, as preparations continue for their upcoming fixtures.
The message was unmistakable: Cagliari intend to keep him on the pitch while the off-field situation unfolds.
A surname under the spotlight
Every step Maldini takes is traced back to the family name on the back of his shirt. Son of Paolo and grandson of Cesare, he belongs to one of football’s most storied dynasties. Both elder Maldinis are etched into AC Milan’s history and widely regarded as icons of the game.
Daniel has already carved out a piece of history of his own. In 2024, he became the third generation of his family to represent Italy when he made his international debut against Israel in the Nations League. Since then he has collected six caps for the Azzurri, the latest coming in September 2025.
Now, as Cagliari look to build on the momentum of that win over Atalanta, their creative spark finds himself juggling a crucial role in their season with the harsh glare of a police investigation and the weight of a legacy that never really fades.
