The veteran defender is eager to remind the Inter coach that he is yet to win a single Scudetto, when Maldini already has five.

The comment came as a response to a swipe from the Portuguese, who has made enemies of many Serie A managers including Luciano Spalletti of Roma, Claudio Ranieri of Juventus and Milan's Carlo Ancelotti.

"It doesn't matter that Milan have so many players with a winning mentality, this season they will finish with no trophies," Mourinho said after the Coppa Italia clash with Sampdoria.

"And Juventus only find themselves in such a good position due to refereeing errors."

Maldini rarely shies away from the media spotlight and replied: "I don't want to trade insults with Mourinho, but he really can't make these claims until he wins something for Inter himself.

"As far as I know, he is discussing something which he has a chance of winning, but which I have already won five times."

Yet Maldini's final season for the Rossoneri before retiring does look set to end without any silverware.

The 40-year-old defender's team were eliminated from the UEFA Cup by Werder Bremen and the club are 12 points behind Mourinho's men in the Serie A table.