Rafael Leao has admitted that he turned down Inter because he was waiting and hoping for AC Milan to make a move.
Leao arrived at Milan in the 2019 summer window from Lille, and has since become one of the faces of Serie A in the following half-decade. He has been a pivotal figure for the Rossoneri, notably winning the League MVP award when Milan won the title in 2021-22.
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This season he is playing more of a central role rather than out wide this season under Massimiliano Allegri in the 3-5-2, and despite playing with a physical issue he is still contributing. He scored the equaliser against Como on Wednesday night, moving him level with Christian Pulisic as the top scorer.
Leao said no to Inter
Leao gave an interview to CBS Sports for the new episode of Kickin’ It and he responded to questions on a number of things. He shed some light on an approach from Inter and why he turned it down, hoping for a call from the other side of the city.
“Inter called sporting director Luis Campos and said they were interested. I wasn’t sure, but in the past I’d followed and heard about Milan with Maldini, Ronaldinho my idol. Not Inter. I said: I’ll stay another year,” he said.
“We finished second in the league and would have played in the Champions League the following year. But then he told me: Milan wants you. I think the deal will be done in a few days. In training you play the first part, not the second. No risk.
“They told me: someone wants to speak to you in ten minutes. Facetime, Maldini. He asked me how I was, told me they’d followed me during the season, asked me if I wanted to be part of the Rossoneri family. And I went straight to the signing.”
Man, Leao said some things that make me continue to think he does not have the right mindset to play for AC Milan. He has the talent, but the mindset is off.
In his words, Ibra is way too tough in training. His antidote is by saying that Ibra told the coach after a practice session to not bring the youth players to come train with them because in a practice game Ibra lost while in the team with the youth players.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ibra was then way too tough in other aspects that involved Leao directly because he never shows he cares enough on the pitch. He is lucky his talent keeps him employed at the club; as soon as his pace falls off a cliff, he will show how useless of a player he is.
This is dumb af. Did you even think bed you wrote this. This year Leao has no pace, he can’t out run anyone and he’s still going to finish with double digit goals. Besides every player falls off as they age, Kyle walker was a great player until his pace fell off, kaka was a beast then his pace fell off and he couldn’t play in Europe anymore. Pato was the look of the next ballon d’or then he got hurt and lost his pace. You are clueless 😂
He doesn’t have the mindset to play for Milan? One minute everyone is complaining that Milan are too reliant on Leao. Let’s see…he’s Milan’s top scorer again and scored several match winners this season, including a few match savers like last weekend. And all while 50% fit…you are right. Not good enough! Sigh.