AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has claimed that he was ‘never afraid’ of losing Rafael Leao despite the rumours linking him with a move to Chelsea.
Calciomercato.com are among the sources that reported how the Milan management resisted the temptation to sell Leao to Chelsea. The Blues were ready to offer close to €150m to sign him (close to his release clause) but never obtained an opening from Milan.
Pioli did his pre-match press conference at Milanello today on the eve of tomorrow’s derby against Inter – a game Leao will hope to be decisive in – and he was asked by one journalist if he was at any point worried that the Portuguese winger might depart.
“The rumours are spread by you and then ask me if I was afraid (smiles). I was never afraid of losing him either because of the boy’s attitude or because of what the club told me,” he said (via MilanNews).
Now, the mission is the renewal of the former Lille star given that there is a strong desire to keep him as a pillar moving forward.
