Former AC Milan director Leonardo has made the bold claim that he helped bring four Brazilian stars to the club, reflecting on his time with the Rossoneri.
Interviewed by L’Equipe, Leonardo talked about his past with the Rossoneri and how he grew both as a sporting director and as a man after his playing career was finished, with his comments relayed by SempreMilan.it.
“I spent 13 years at Milan as a player, coach and manager. There I trained as an executive. Adriano Galliani gave me a rare opportunity in football. He put me next to him and for me it was like going to university,” he said.
Leonardo also gave some market background and claimed that he was in large part responsible for the discovery of Kakà, Thiago Silva and Pato who went on to have fantastic careers at the club, as well as the signing of Rivaldo from Barcelona.
“I lived six years looking at the person who decided everything without the weight of responsibility within a club that has won everything. Allowing me to have my say, to act, as done with Kakà, Thiago Silva, Pato, Rivaldo. Milan was continuity at the highest levels. Then, I think Paris has given me the most mixed emotions,” he said.
Leonardo came back to Milan in the summer of 2018 as part of a new look board that Elliott Management put together after taking the club from Yonghong Li. He negotiatied the signings of Gonzalo Higuain, Mattia Caldara, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Samu Castillejo and Diego Laxalt, plus Lucas Paqueta and Krzysztof Piatek in January, before returning to PSG.
