AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has spoken about the impact that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had at the club, while also recalling his journey since joining back in 2019.
Leao grew up in the Almada district of Lisbon and represented Sporting at the start of his career. After moving to Lille and impressing, he was signed by Milan and has become one of the most exciting wide players in the world.
The Rossoneri wants to lift at least one trophy this season, whether it is the Coppa Italia or the Europa League, and to achieve this they will need to be able to count on the best version of Leao, which his goal against Cagliari shows is still in there.
Last night left the field last night with his usual contagious smile after getting booed off against Sassuolo by a minority of fans. Yesterday the entire stadium rallied behind him and chanted for him even before he entered the pitch, which make the love towards him obvious.
Leao was interviewed by Milan TV for a video released on the club’s official channels, recapping what will soon be a five-year journey as a Milan player.
On his arrival: “When I initially arrived it wasn’t easy, because I wasn’t able to show my abilities, my characteristics and my talent. Today I’m a more aware player and I know that I can give a lot to my team.”
On pressure: “In my opinion it’s not a question of pressure or responsibility, it’s the motivation of knowing what my teammates expect of me on the pitch. It’s an extra motivation to get on the pitch and make a difference. This pushes me to give your best.”
On the captain’s armband: “It had been a bit of a week like this, we were going through a difficult moment. In the meeting before the match the coach said ‘we don’t have Theo, we don’t have Calabria, Rafa will be the captain today’.
“I was waiting, but that’s how it went. I felt the trust from everyone, the coach and my teammates. Everyone was happy for me after the meeting. It was a source of pride for me, because I’ve been here for a long time.
“Milan helped me to be a top-level player, even without the captain’s armband it’s a joy to play with the Milan shirt, I hope to be captain other times.”
On the fans: “When I arrived here no one talked about me and today I am an idol. Thanks to them, because they put pressure on me, positive pressure. They gave me strength. I thank them, because without them I wouldn’t be the player I am today”.
On his way of playing: “I’m not a selfish player, I can score goals and if my team-mate is free, I’ll pass.”
On the level he can reach: “Right now the numbers make the difference, Mappé, Messi, Haaland and Ronaldo are at another level. The numbers speak for them. When I put this thing in my head I will get to their level.”
On the No.10 shirt: “There was the possibility of taking number 7, a number that I like, but Adli had already taken it, Giroud had already taken number 9, Pulisic had already taken number 11 and I said ‘I’ll take number 10’.
“It’s a number which I like, when I was little the important players wore this number, I remember Seedorf. My idol is Ronaldo, he wears the number 7, but the number 10 is that player who has something extra, he takes the team forward and I thought that it was the right chin to take this shirt.”
Gol Leao, assist Pulisic. Udah ft.https://t.co/1WIsc5ekk3
— Tribun Milano (@Info4_Milanisti) January 2, 2024
On Jan-Carlo Simic: “I grew up at Sporting, but he joined the team in the Primavera. When he scored it was an incredible emotion, as if I had scored the goal, the first goal with Milan. He’s a boy good, listens to advice and works 100% every day.
“In my opinion there are not many people who have the opportunity to play and score goals at the San Siro at his age. He has something more than the others. Like him, too the teammates who are coming to Serie A, like Camarda for example.
“At that age you have to work and when you have the opportunity you have to make the most of it; it’s difficult, but you’re one step away from arriving.”
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “When I played good games he didn’t say anything, while when I missed a pass or had bad games he came to me. It’s good pressure because he was my teammate and also a coach.
“If he talks to you and tells you how to do it, it’s terrible He loves you. His advice helped me and his return will help me even more because he is an important person for all of us at Milan.
“When he arrived the team had its head down, he brought a winning mentality. With him every match it was a final. The important factor is precisely his mentality.”
On his second passion: “My dad was a singer, my uncle was a DJ, so music has always been close to me. In France my parents were always with me, so music was company. I started trying to singing in quarantine, when we were at home for a month.
“We trained in the morning on a video call, in the afternoon I had nothing to do. So I said ‘I’ll buy a couple of things and see what happens’. It was a positive thing for me, because I am a person who doesn’t talk much.
“I started writing something about my life, about difficult moments and about my family. Music is one of my passions, a way to express myself: in football I express myself with a smile, in music with the words I make others hear.
“Football for me is entering the pitch with a smile, making the most of every moment with the ball, playing at San Siro and wearing the Milan shirt.”
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
“When he arrived the team had its head down, he brought a winning mentality. With him every match it was a final. The important factor is precisely his mentality.”