Milan: Paolo Maldini’s son Christian has signed up as an AC Milan player, becoming the third generation of the footballing family to be on the books of the Italian club.

Christian Maldini, the nine-year old son of the current AC Milan captain and grandson of former player and coach Cesare Maldini, was formally registered at a ceremony at the club’s headquarters.

The youngest Maldini is expected to make his debut for one of the club’s junior teams in a derby game against Inter Milan on Saturday.

Paolo Maldini, 37, recently set a new record number of appearances in Serie A and is also Italy’s most capped player while his father was captain of the first Milan team to win the European Cup in 1963. (Reuters)