Former AC Milan chief Leonardo admits he is "astonished" by the sacking of Paolo Maldini.

Maldini was dismissed as technical director by owner Gerry Cardinale on Monday.

Leonardo told TMW: “I am not only astonished, the whole football world is astonished for the way of the dismissal and for the reasons.

"Milan in the last two years have won a Scudetto and reached a Champions League semi-final.

“For more than a decade the club have not closed the budget in profit and now are about to do so, not to mention that the overall value of Milan, since Elliott took over from the Chinese, has quadrupled."