Rafael Leao has spoken once again about his interests away from football such as music and fashion, and how he ended up having these parts of his personality.
Speaking during an interview with Versus (via Radio Rossonera), the Portuguese forward was quickly asked about his interesting fashion and how, much like his style of football, he operates in a fearless manner.
Leao explained that it was his father that prompted the interest in fashion and clothes, as he was always interested in dressing well and taking care of his appearance.
“My father is fashionable, he likes to wear nice clothes, he was one of the first people to inspire me to dress well and check everything before leaving the house,” Leao said.
He also added that he would like to work in the fashion world in the future, with it being unclear if he means after his football career or as a way to keep busy after he retires.
“It depends on the personality, I’m rather calm but I want to enter that world so I need to look for people who can help me to reach and express myself at the highest level. I’m not afraid, I think I have the personality to do it… and the image. I just want to do campaigns with the biggest brands like Gucci, Prada, Bottega – that kind of thing,” he explained.
Talking about what it can be like for footballers to try other things away from the pitch whilst being in the public eye, he said: “When you take the field you are a normal person and a normal person can do anything. Of course, football is your first job and you have to give 100%, but you can do other things too. I think that 90% of football players want to try other things, but sometimes they are afraid of what people will say.”
When someone is as interested in fashion as Leao is, there is a decent chance that they are also into music. That is the case for Leao, who has had two albums published under the name WAY 45 since 2021.
“I know at least two or three musicians who have made music and haven’t published it because they aren’t sure how it sounds,” he said about having the bravery to put your work out there.
This is why he will never be one of the greats. He will be amazing, everyone will always talk about how talented he is, but when his career ends, everyone will only remember him as someone with potential that wasted it because of a wrong attitude.
Talent will only get you so far. To become one for the football gods, you need to live and breathe football. It should be football, 100 empty places, then everything else, otherwise you’re just another Balotelli or Quaresma. I love Leao, but I don’t think he has the mentality necessary to get himself there.
Some footballers can multitask and have other hobbies and even businesses (like Ibra), but really only something they only really take up when they are older in their 30s. Leao is still very young.
Can’t really compare him to Balotelli and Quaresma, those guys had bad behaviour issues.
Problem nowadays with this kids is, they’re given huge sums of money at very young age. Commercial brands highjack them and so they are first models and influencers and only after footballers.
Wrong priorities.
Its like balotelli and cassano. Sadly
Agreed, milan need to realy analyze his passion for football and see if he will ever be more than he is now. Cus the fact that he constantly thinks about life after football so early in his career is a red flag. Does he want to b a fashionista, rapping footballer or a footballing god first and foremost If not the latter then sell him while the opportunity is available
This explains a lot.
He is more concerned about superficial things like fashion. No wonder he doesn’t work hard on the pitch, it would not be good for his image. He prefers to look cool and aloof than sweaty, gritty and tired.
It really shows everything wrong with football. These young guys are payed so much and pampered so much, they look elsewhere for satisfaction.
He should be working hard and concentrating.
He does not have the mindset to be a champion, he’d rather be a show boater. Sad
I’d honestly put him on the market on the back of this interview.
It’s pretty stupid by him.
All these Milan supporters paying hard earned money to see this guy and he’s only half interested.
For sure Paris suits him
Off the field, Milan will not want to lose out to Paris on the fashion front. It might even make the football club raise his wages to keep him and his fashion image at home.
He’s not wrong with “I think that 90% of football players want to try other things, but sometimes they are afraid of what people will say.” because of classic reactions like these. It’s a job, he’s doing it, he’s allowed to enjoy other things in life too. Like no-one else here has hobbies or interests outside of their job.
He’s not working hard at his job, that’s the problem!
Anyone who’s half assing it at work due to extra curricular activities, doesn’t last long
He absolutely is, and he will be a really good at his job.And that is okay too. But if that is the case, he is not it, he will never be it, and we sadly might need to find someone with a right attitude, mindset of a champion, like Ibra for example, not an employee that is just halfassing his job so he can go home and make music.
“I think that 90% of football players want to try other things, but sometimes they are afraid of what people will say”.
Nope. Definitely got it wrong. It’s vice versa. Over 90% of players are focused on football and not trying to pursuit another careers simultaneously. How many other professional players are e.g. making rap music seriously? Not even 1 out of 1000.
All you need to do is focus on your football career. Never mind being a rapper or fashion because if you weren’t a professional footballer you would have no business in those. Focus on your football because your seriously slacking.
He has the skills to be out of this world, but something is seriously lacking in his attitude. I think anyone can have many hobbies, interests and even side gigs. But when you lack focus it’s a bigger problem.
If he wants to end up like Balotelli that’s his own prerogative and we need to move on.
Let the kid enjoy life his own way, we are all seeking to live life to the max, why hold him hostage, he is human before he is a footballer, if milan dont want him to do it, they know what to do, he can play for the fans but he cant live for the fans, and its gonna take a long time before milan sign a player more talented than him considering what we have seen in the recent past
Maybe score goals in the meantime to pay for it.
3 goals in half a season for 7M/year? FFS, even Tomori can do that (for less money and working his *ss of defending) and he’s not even rapping and posing for magazines.
Lets just say -Leao isnt going for a Diving Header face first into a crowded box. Dont wanna end up like Ming-son from tottenham with a busted nose and Face now, lol. Giroud can those headers right?
It is time to cash in before it becomes too late.
Get us 100 million and you can enter that world