Paolo Maldini gives update on his future amid links to Manchester United sporting director role

AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini ruled out working for another club in Italy when asked about his plans for the future.

Manchester United's football director John Murtough is expected to leave his position after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority stake is ratified and former defender Maldini is among those linked with becoming his successor.

The 55-year-old spent four years as Milan's technical director and was responsible for overhauling the club's recruitment, while he was also credited with putting together their last Serie A winning side.

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Maldini left his position at the San Siro in the summer following the arrival of new American owners and he's been out of work since leaving Milan, which has seen him linked with a role at Old Trafford.

In an interview with La Repubblica this week, Maldini spoke about his exit from Milan for the first time and he was asked about links to football director jobs in England and Saudi Arabia.

Maldini admitted he couldn't work for another club in Italy and said an offer in the Middle East could be tempting.

He said: “For my job, the alternatives to Milan are very limited. I could never go to another Italian team. Possibly I would only evaluate the offer of a high-level foreign team. I like winning and building. Saudi Arabia could be a stimulating option, who knows.”

A well-placed source recently told the MEN that Murtough is going amid a preference for a new figurehead for the football department.

It's also understood more changes are planned behind the scenes at United, with INEOS unimpressed by other departmental strategies.