New signing Noah Okafor has lifted the lid on how his move to AC Milan come about, while also declaring himself as Rafael Leao’s ‘twin’.
Milan had been linked with a move for Okafor in the months after he scored against them in the opening game of the 2022-23 Champions League group stage for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, and the management wrapped up a deal quickly.
The 23-year-old has played 110 games for the Austrian club, racking up 34 goals and 23 assists in that period. That was enough to convince the Rossoneri management to quickly close an operation worth €14m and give Stefano Pioli a versatile forward option.
Okafor gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport while on the USA tour in which he spoke about his first impressions of being at Milan and what he has in mind regarding his role, among other topics.
Noah Arinzechukwu Okafor. Difficult, even if Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori is also up there. A week in Milan, has it gone better or worse than expected?
“There is a great atmosphere here, the team is fantastic and the coach is doing very well. I recently signed for Milan but I’m very happy, I’m really confident for the future.”
Without beating around the bush, are you ready to win the Scudetto?
“Yes, also because a footballer who doesn’t want to win… is not a footballer. We have a strong team and I hope to win Serie A right away. To do this you always need energy, sometimes you lose games but you learn from defeats. Besides, I hate losing.”
Your contract with Salzburg was set to expire in 2024, many clubs across Europe were interested. Milan tried for you with Maldini and Massara, and with the new one of Furlani and Moncada. Why this choice?
“Because they really wanted me. In the Autumn I played against Milan in the Champions League and we have been in contact ever since. It is clear that I had other offers but for me everything was always clear. The fans, the San Siro stadium, everything. It’s a new step for my growth.”
So let’s talk about growing up, with a Swiss mother and a father who comes from Nigeria…
“Yes, I’ve only been to Nigeria twice but I was younger, it’s been a long time. My dad arrived in Germany when he was 17, then he went to Switzerland. I learned from him, he always told me to be happy, to smile, to transmit positive energy and to fight hard for my goals.”
Did that ‘be your own hero’ tattoo on your legs come from there? Why exactly that phrase?
“Because I think I can decide every day what I want to do. It just depends on me, I’m my own boss and I know what I want. The tattoo was born from this thought. I want to do my best both in training and in matches. Always train hard to take the next step and improve.”
On the Internet we read: ‘Okafor already had a mental coach when he was 15-16’. Do you still have one?
“Yes, I think it’s important for a young player. With this life we always have pressure on and off the pitch: talking to someone is really important to me.”
And the other tattoos? We see faces on your left arm, a lion…
“The faces belong to my brothers. Two boys, younger than me, playing soccer, one in Germany, one in Switzerland. And an older sister. For my brothers I am an idol, they want to do like me, and I took care of them as a child, we have a great relationship.”
Is Rafa Leao an added twin?
“Yes, Rafa and I are like twins: we both dribble very well, we are young, we have the same humour. We spoke for the first time after a match between Switzerland and Portugal, then we exchanged messages after the games in the Champions League and we were also opponents in the World Cup. We have a good relationship, I can’t wait to play with him.”
By the way, how’s your physical condition?
“I’m fine, I’ve been out in the last few weeks but from next I’ll be in the group.”
An old interview on redbull.com reads: ‘I have suffered some racist comments from opponents and the public’. In evaluating an Italian proposal, was racism a theme?
“No.”
How was the ‘behind the scenes’ of the negotiation?
“Milan remained in contact with me for 6-9 months, contacts that have become more intense in the last two weeks. They saw that I was fine, then everything was done in three-four days and… here I am.”
Why the number 17?
“7 is my favorite number, in fact in Salzburg I had 77. Here the 7 was taken from Adli, so I chose 17, which is Rafa’s old number. I like.”
All the new signings talk about the history of Milan. Which players come to mind when thinking about the past?
“Milan is a great club, with a great history. It has had many stars, great players but even now we are very strong, young, hungry. If I have to choose, I’ll say Ronaldinho, Kakà and Gullit. I’m still young but I want to help this team make history again.”
As a centre-forward or winger?
“I can play on the left, on the right and as a forward in the centre. I am flexible. I have to adapt to a new country, with new tactics and new teams but I’ve already been there with Salzburg. I try to be open with my teammates and the staff, I’m really happy to be here.”
Last thing. Have you ever talked to Maignan and Kalulu about that goal in Salzburg-Milan?
“Mike told me it was luck because the ball passed between his legs but dribbling in Kalulu is not discussed, I looked for it. And then… a goal is always a goal.”
So the pursuit was already started before the sacking of Maldini? This one really went off the media’s radar.
No, there was some mild interest at the time, but 30-40 million was the figure so it died out pretty fast
The time being after he scored on us
There was talk but the price tag and the long term injury killed the talk.
But also, without the injury it’s possible he won’t come to us as cheap as that… possibly closer to 25m.
Try and visit NIGERIA if we win atrophy 🇳🇬