Theo Hernández Reveals AC Milan Management Threatened Squad Exclusion: “I Never Wanted to Leave”

Theo Hernández has delivered a stunning revelation about his departure from AC Milan, claiming club management forced him out with an explicit threat of squad exclusion. The French left-back, who joined Al-Hilal in July 2025 for €25 million, broke his silence in an explosive interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, painting a drastically different picture from the club’s public narrative.

“I never wanted to leave AC Milan. I was open to staying, but when one person from management calls you and says: if you stay, we put you out of the squad… then you can only look for a new club,” Hernández stated, revealing the pressure he faced during his final months at San Siro.

The 27-year-old defender’s account directly contradicts AC Milan’s position that he demanded excessive wages and lacked commitment. Instead, Hernández insists he prioritized staying at the Rossoneri, only to face an ultimatum that left him no choice but to seek opportunities elsewhere.

His departure ended a six-year spell at Milan that included a Serie A title in 2021-22, 34 goals in 262 appearances, and the distinction of becoming the club’s highest-scoring defender in history with 30 Serie A goals—surpassing Paolo Maldini’s previous record. The bitter circumstances surrounding his exit have reignited debates about Milan’s management decisions and treatment of key players.

The Explosive Interview

Theo Hernández’s interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport revealed deep-seated frustration with how AC Milan handled his contract situation and eventual departure. The French international denied accusations that characterized him as greedy or uncommitted, instead presenting himself as a loyal player forced out against his will.

“I would never have left. My priority was to stay,” Hernández emphasized, addressing speculation about his intentions. “They said I was asking for outrageous sums to renew, that I was trying to force my way out… but it was all untrue.”

The most damaging revelation concerned a direct conversation with a Milan executive. “I deserved better treatment. I didn’t expect this,” Hernández said, before detailing the ultimatum: “When an executive calls you and tells you, ‘If you stay, you’ll be sidelined,’ what can I do? Some teammates pushed me to stay, but when a director calls you and says ‘if you stay here, we’ll cut you from the squad’, then what can I do?“

Hernández’s farewell message on social media had already irritated Milan executives before the interview. In his Instagram post, he wrote: “The direction the club has taken and some recent decisions do not reflect the values or ambition that brought me here.” According to Gazzetta dello Sport, this criticism particularly annoyed the Rossoneri management.

The defender saved special praise for Paolo Maldini, who originally signed him from Real Madrid for €20 million in 2019. “The day he called me to meet was the best day of my sporting life. He joined me in Ibiza and we chatted. I couldn’t believe it. If I have become who I am, and also the AC Milan defender with the most goals, it’s thanks to him. We’re still in touch. His shirt with the dedication: ‘Theo, my worthy heir’ makes me emotional.”

This tribute to Maldini—who departed Milan’s sporting director role in 2023—underscored Hernández’s belief that the club’s direction changed after losing key figures who valued him.

AC Milan’s Counter-Narrative

Behind the scenes, AC Milan officials have presented a radically different version of events without issuing formal public responses. Club sources characterize Theo Hernández as a player who fell below expectations, lacked commitment, and made excessive financial demands that justified their decision to part ways.

According to Milan executives, Hernández requested wages exceeding €8 million per year—a figure the club deemed unreasonable given their financial constraints after missing Champions League qualification. They claim the defender changed his position multiple times during negotiations before ultimately accepting Al-Hilal’s offer of an estimated €25 million annual salary.

Milan’s management also points to what they view as declining performances and attitude problems during Hernández’s final season. The club reportedly defended him during difficult personal circumstances off the pitch, only to feel his subsequent criticism was unjustified and ungrateful.

Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Milan executives were particularly disappointed because they always defended Hernández during tough times last season, especially when his poor performances reflected struggles off the pitch. His public criticism therefore felt like betrayal to management that believed they had supported him through difficulties.

The club’s hard stance emerged in June 2025 reports from Calciomercato.com, which stated Milan had “no issues using a hard stance” with Hernández. Without a transfer on the club’s terms, he “could end up out of the squad”—effectively confirming the exclusion threat Hernández later described.

This threat appeared designed to pressure Hernández into accepting available offers rather than running down his contract. Milan faced losing him for free when his deal expired, repeating a pattern that had cost them significant transfer fees with other departing stars.

The two narratives remain irreconcilable: Hernández insists he wanted to stay but faced impossible ultimatums, while Milan maintains he priced himself out with unreasonable demands and insufficient commitment. The truth likely exists somewhere between these opposing accounts.

Statistical Legacy at Milan

Theo Hernández leaves AC Milan with remarkable achievements over six seasons. The French left-back established himself as one of Serie A’s most productive defenders while contributing to Milan’s resurgence.

On January 14, 2025, Hernández scored against Como to surpass Paolo Maldini’s record as Milan’s highest-scoring defender in Serie A—a historic milestone. During 2020-21, he was the only defender in Europe’s top five leagues to score two braces, and led Serie A defenders with 73 successful dribbles.

His most memorable moment came on May 15, 2022, when he ran 95 meters before scoring against Atalanta in a 2-0 win. One week later, Milan won their first Serie A title in 11 years, with Hernández contributing 5 goals and 6 assists—the most for any defender that season.

His partnership with Rafael Leao formed Europe’s most dangerous left-sided combination, capable of dismantling defenses through pace, power, and technical quality.

Controversies and Disciplinary Issues

Theo Hernández’s attacking contributions were matched by disciplinary problems that complicated his legacy. On October 6, 2024—his 27th birthday—he experienced a disastrous match against Fiorentina: caused a penalty (saved), missed his own penalty attempt, assisted Pulisic’s equalizer, nearly conceded another penalty, and received a red card after arguing with the referee post-game, resulting in a two-game suspension.

Reports suggested declining commitment in his final year—poor training fitness, minimal defensive effort, and attitude problems. Sergio Conceição’s halftime substitution against Como sparked debate about his starting security, especially when he accepted France duty despite calf issues that limited Milan availability.

An incident wearing Maldini’s jersey to training created tension, with “some people didn’t like it,” suggesting internal conflicts about invoking Maldini’s legacy under new management.

The Al-Hilal Move

Theo Hernández officially joined Al-Hilal on July 10, 2025, for €25 million—significantly lower than what Milan could have commanded had his contract not been expiring.

The €25 million annual salary dwarfed what Milan could offer after missing Champions League qualification. While Hernández claimed he prioritized staying, the financial gulf proved decisive once Milan made clear he wasn’t wanted.

In 16 matches, Hernández has scored 5 goals for Al-Hilal, demonstrating his attacking instincts translate to Saudi football. However, playing outside Europe’s top leagues at age 27 raises questions about his career trajectory and France national team prospects.

Paolo Maldini’s Role

Paolo Maldini’s influence looms large over Theo Hernández’s Milan career. The legendary defender personally recruited Hernández in 2019, meeting him in Ibiza to convince him to join.

“The day he called me to meet was the best day of my sporting life. He joined me in Ibiza and we chatted. I couldn’t believe it,” Hernández recalled. “If I have become who I am, and also the AC Milan defender with the most goals, it’s thanks to him. We’re still in touch. His shirt with the dedication: ‘Theo, my worthy heir’ makes me emotional.”

Maldini’s departure as sporting director in June 2023—alongside Frederic Massara—marked a turning point. The pair were fired after building the 2021-22 Scudetto-winning squad. Hernández’s tribute to Maldini, combined with criticism of current management’s “direction and values,” suggested he viewed Maldini’s exit as the moment Milan lost its way.

Theo Hernández’s explosive revelations about AC Milan management’s ultimatum have exposed deep fractures in how the club operates under current ownership. His claim that an executive threatened squad exclusion if he stayed contradicts the public narrative of an unreasonable player demanding excessive wages.

The truth likely incorporates elements from both versions. Hernández’s declining performances, disciplinary issues, and attitude problems during his final season gave Milan legitimate concerns about committing long-term resources. However, the apparent threat to sideline him suggests management prioritized forcing his departure over attempting genuine reconciliation.

Milan lost a historically productive defender who scored 34 goals in 262 appearances and broke Paolo Maldini’s Serie A record for a defender. Whether the €25 million received represents adequate compensation for losing such a talent remains debatable, particularly given his performances could have commanded higher fees under different circumstances.

For Hernández, the bitter departure robs him of the opportunity to cement his legacy at a club where he achieved historic milestones. His move to Al-Hilal at age 27—during what should be his prime years—raises questions about whether financial considerations ultimately outweighed his stated desire to stay.

The saga highlights broader issues at Milan: player contract mismanagement, communication breakdowns between management and squad, and the ongoing impact of Paolo Maldini’s departure. Until the club addresses these structural problems, similar disputes with key players seem inevitable.

As Hernández settles into Saudi football and Milan attempts to replace his production, both parties must live with the consequences of a divorce that satisfied neither side. The French left-back wanted to stay but felt forced out; Milan wanted better terms but lost a legendary defender. In the end, only Al-Hilal truly won.

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