BERGAMO, Italy (AP) — Daniel Maldini, the son of soccer great Paolo Maldini, completed his move to title-chasing Atalanta from bottom-club Monza on Saturday.
Atalanta confirmed the news in a statement, without revealing details of the permanent deal. Italian media reports that Atalanta have paid Monza 13 million euros ($13.5 million) for the 23-year-old Maldini, with half of that fee going to his old club, AC Milan.
Maldini progressed through the ranks at Milan, the club where his father — and also his grandfather, Cesare — starred.
Paolo Maldini, who holds the record for most appearances in Serie A, is widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever defenders. He spent his entire career at Milan, helping it to 25 trophies including five European Cups and seven Serie A titles.
Daniel Maldini is an attacking midfielder who made his senior debut for Milan in 2020 at age 18.
He became the third Maldini to win a Serie A title with Milan in 2022 before leaving for loan spells at Spezia and Empoli, and then joining Monza in January 2024.
Maldini scored three goals in 20 league matches this season for Monza. He also earned a call-up to the Italy squad in October, making his international debut in a 4-1 win over Israel.
Atalanta is at the other end of the Serie A table, in third place and seven points behind leader Napoli heading into the weekend.
It is also in the Champions League, where it will play Club Brugge in the knockout playoffs round.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Genoa's Lior Kassa, left, and Monza's Daniel Maldini in action during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Monza at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)
Genoa's Koni De Winter jumps for the ball with Monza's Daniel Maldini, right, during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Monza at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)
AC Monza's Daniel Maldini during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Monza, at the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Studio Buzzi/LaPresse via AP)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Light-hitting catcher Freddy Fermin launched his first homer this season to lift the San Diego Padres over the New York Mets 3-2 on Saturday night, snapping a six-game losing streak.
Fermin was hitless in his previous 30 at-bats before his two-run shot off reliever Austin Warren (1-2) in the seventh inning.
That nullified a fine performance by Mets rookie Nolan McLean, who allowed one run on three hits and three walks in six innings.
New York had two on and one out in the eighth when Juan Soto scorched a line drive to second baseman Sung-Mun Song. He snagged it and then flipped the ball to shortstop Xander Bogaerts to double off Carson Benge at second base.
Bradgley Rodriguez (1-2) worked the seventh and got the win despite giving up Marcus Semien's tiebreaking solo homer. Mason Miller pitched a hitless ninth for his 18th save.
Padres starter Griffin Canning tossed five innings against his former team. He yielded one run and three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Semien broke a 1-all tie in the seventh when he sent Rodriguez’s first pitch over the left-field wall. Earlier in the game, Seimen snapped an 0-for-14 skid with a single.
The Padres squandered a chance in the fifth with shoddy baserunning. Song and Fernando Tatis Jr. singled, putting runners at the corners with two outs.
Tatis broke for second on a steal attempt, which drew a fake throw from Luis Torrens. The catcher then wheeled and fired to third, where Song had bit on the deception and was retired in a rundown.
San Diego manufactured a run to tie the score in the third. Song opened with a walk, stole second and scored when Tatis’ grounder up the middle ricocheted off second base into shallow right field for an RBI single.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the second on Brett Baty’s two-out RBI single.
Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (5-3, 3.31 ERA) starts Sunday in the series finale. RHP Huascar Brazobán (3-1, 2.25 ERA) will be New York's opener, with LHP Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.08) expected to pitch in bulk relief.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean winds up against a San Diego Padres batter in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
San Diego Padres' Mason Miller, right, celebrates with Freddy Fermin after the team defeated the New York Mets in a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
San Diego Padres' Freddy Fermin, center, celebrates with Fernando Tatis Jr. after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
San Diego Padres' Freddy Fermin reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
San Diego Padres' Freddy Fermin celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
