Rafael Leao has described new coach Paulo Fonseca as a ‘direct’ person and stressed that he and his teammates are already very happy to be working with the former Lille man.
Leao spoke in a long interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport and he opened up about several of his team-mates, becoming a father and meeting with the new coach Paulo Fonseca.
In your autobiography ‘Smile’ there is a strong sentence: “I can’t open my heart 100% to anyone, because I have a terrible fear that they will hurt me”. Can we talk about it?
“Yes, when I was little I grew up in a neighborhood like Jamaica, in Lisbon. People outside the neighbourhood looked at us badly, there weren’t many people who gave us a hand and that’s how I grew up. I have a form of protection: I don’t open up, so I feel safer. And then I learn better on my own: it hurts more, but that’s how you grow.”
What do you mean ‘people looked at us badly’?
“There were people in the area who did things that are better left unsaid and Jamaica was seen as a bad neighbourhood. The truth is that people were only looking for a good future and had no opportunities. André, Emmanuel, Paolo, my friends from then are still my great friends.”
A year ago, in an interview in Los Angeles, you said you wanted to have children soon. Is that still the case?
“Yes, I’m going to be a father soon, father of twins. They should be born in November. I’m sure it will be a very nice experience, I like children. Let’s say I have yet another reason to value my family and continue working for it.”
Congratulations. What will you call them?
“Rodrigo and Tiago”.
So is this a happy moment in your life?
“Yes, going out in the quarterfinals at the European Championship was a difficult moment but it was still a great experience. The family vacations did me good: instead of coming here to New Jersey from Miami, I went to Portugal to see my relatives.
“They are the ones who, in bad times or good times, are close to me. Now I’m fired up for the season, I’m happy to see my teammates again and play another season with this jersey. I’ve stayed in touch with almost everyone, Florenzi asked me: ‘Are you training?’
“I never do boring training sessions, I try to use them to do what I like. In the last few days I’ve been with my personal trainer, I’ve done shots, headers. These are important things: in front of the goalkeeper, they help me score more goals.”
Speaking of which, is it possible that you lack a bit of killer instinct in the area?
“When I was little, I liked dribbling and making assists. I watched everyone, especially Xavi and Iniesta, who made 30-meter passes, or even just 5 to put a striker in front of the goal.
“That’s why I’m not selfish. My favourites have always been Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo at United, all those who made incredible plays or passes. That’s how I see myself, I bring something different.”
And scoring goals?
“Football is just numbers now, it’s clear that numbers are important but they don’t valorize talent anymore. Those who can’t make a pass but score 30 goals are put above everyone else, even those who bring something different. Football, however, is about putting on a show and winning, that’s why they come to watch us.”
In short, we will never see Leao as a No.9…
“I want to score more goals, that’s clear: I’ll try to do both, the plays and the goals. On the pitch I can adapt, I can play close to the striker but now, with more tactical football, the teams move back and occupy the central area a lot.
“I haven’t played with my back to the goal for years and I need space, to see the whole pitch. I don’t see myself playing as a centre forward any time soon.”
Much has been written about your meeting with Fonseca in Portugal, before the European Championship. What were your first impressions?
“He is a direct person, very much so, he immediately shows what he wants. His teams have always played good football and for the forwards he is top: I feel good with him and his team-mates are also happy.
“The training sessions are very intense, always with the ball: in my opinion we have already understood all his playing ideas, it will be great. Milan’s identity historically is with the ball and here all the players are involved in possession: in my opinion he is the right coach.”
Any personal requests?
“He asks me to stay wide, look for the ball, do one-twos to get close to the area.”
This time Morata will be in the area, is he the right purchase or would others have been better?
“Morata and Giroud are two champions: one went out, another came in. Giroud made history for Milan but I also know Morata well, he’s a striker who works and is very mobile, it will be great for us other strikers. Let’s hope he scores a lot of goals too.”
And Camarda? Do you talk to each other?
“He’s still young but he’s doing very well, I expect a lot from him. I always try to talk to him, make him understand that in the first team it’s different than in matches with the boys his age.
“He has to be strong, combative. He already knows how to score goals, he has to learn other things but he will be the future of Milan. We older ones are behind him, me too.”
It seems a new Rafa Leao has been born, a wise Rafa…
“Well, I’ve been here for six years and that’s how I am, I always try to help the young players. When I arrived at Milan, the more experienced ones gave me a hand. Now it’s up to us.”
Could Camarda already get some playing time in Serie A?
“The coach decides, but if he continues to work, he can put a bit of pressure on the others. He has to work 100% and wait for his opportunity.”
You saw Pavlovic up close [in the Champions League], do you approve of the signing?
“He’s strong, mean, good with the ball, he’s physical. I have to say that I also like the other players who have been a linked to Milan this summer.”
On the other hand, sometimes people don’t like you. Many say that you are lazy on the pitch, are these criticisms right or wrong?
“Sometimes people don’t understand certain things about football but it doesn’t bother me. The only criticism I listen to is from my coach, the managers, and those at Milan. They love me here, they know where I can get to and I know it too: I can be one of the best, not just at Milan but in the world.”
Three quick thoughts on three people. Stefano Pioli, what does he leave behind?
“He and I grew up together, as a coach and a player. He helped me, he gave me the opportunity to be an important player and I have to thank him forever: he will remain in my career as one of the most important coaches”.
The unluckiest of the tour is Alessandro Florenzi. What does Milan lose with him out?
“We lose his experience, in Italy and in Europe, for me and all of us he is very important even off the pitch. He is a warrior, he will return.”
Can Samuel Chukwueze become decisive after a difficult year?
“Yes, yes, when you don’t play a lot it becomes difficult to show what you can do but, from what I’ve seen, Chuk has more confidence, he wants to have the ball and make a difference. That’s what I was waiting for. If he continues like this, he’ll have a great season.”
Olympic game to close: three names, you must choose who to give gold, silver and bronze. From Portuguese: Eusebio, Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Cris is gold for me, then Eusebio. I give Figo the bronze.”
Left-wingers: Giggs, Ribery, Ronaldinho.
“Ronaldinho without thinking. Silver to Ribery.”
As a basketball fan: Jordan, Kobe, LeBron…
“Kobe gold, he had an aura different from everyone else. Jordan silver, LeBron bronze.”
Rap: Lil Baby, Jay Z, Tupac…
“Tupac gold, I also have his tattoo on my left leg, next to those of Mandela, Malcom X and Martin Luther King. Silver to Lil Baby, Jay Z bronze.”
Let’s try in Italy: Lazza, Capo Plaza, Sfera Ebbasta…
“No no, I can’t do this: too many friends.”
So, a curiosity about tattoos. Have you added any?
“One on the back: ‘Only God can judge me’. It’s the same one Ibra has.”
Do you talk to each other a lot now that he’s a Senior Advisor?
“Yes, we talk. When we played, our friendship was different, I always had him by my side. Now, if I need him, I know I can call him at any time. He’s one of the people who can take me to another level.”
What advice does he give?
“He talks to me about mentality, he says that I have to be more aggressive on the pitch.”
So there’s a new goal for next year: be meaner. Right?
“Yes correct.”
I’m curious to see how Leao fits into this team with his style of play. Under Pioli we were so dependent on him but under Fonsy the team looks more balanced without him although it’s just friendlies. Exciting times ahead.
Maybe it’s easier if not everything is dependent on him. He might get the space to shine when the offensive runs are there from his teammates?
Very exciting and if he can become a bit more aggressive then he can be a big difference for us in big tight matches.
If Pavlovic is as aggressive as he kooks on the left, Theo and Rafa are going to be terrorizing teams. Super excited about that.
That is why players like Chuk have stepped up scoring more goals and providing assist and making impact
Damn he’s ranking Lil Baby over Jay Z… Generational gap I guess. Did someone listen to his music? I tried but I really like him way more as a football player haha
He did rate Tupac top. No qualms there. West Coast …
Leao you can’t do Jay Z like that… its tells you don’t know music and its business