Rafael Leao has admitted that he turned down Inter because he was waiting and hoping for AC Milan to make a move.
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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.
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.”