Leao: "When I played poorly, Ibrahimovic would tell me..."

Leao: “When I played poorly, Ibrahimovic would tell me…”

Rafael Leao, AC Milan's left-winger, shared some insights about himself on the '19F' podcast. Alongside Moise Kean, Capo Plaza, and Shaila Gatta, the Rossoneri player made interesting statements and recounted particular anecdotes.

Here are his words:

"My dad always gave different advice. Never give up, stay close to your family, and always believe in myself. That was the best advice. My father was crucial to me then and still is. He took time off work to watch my matches. If I had been alone with my mother, none of this would have happened. When he went to work in Angola for six months, I struggled with football. I was still at Sporting, and the sporting director suggested I find another club. I called my father, and he came home immediately. I thought I was more mature than I actually was, but without him, I couldn't navigate situations well. When he left, I realised how essential he was."

On the strangest football-related incident, Leao said:

"I was at a restaurant with Portuguese friends. As we were leaving, I turned and saw several AC Milan fans calling out to me, 'Rafa, Rafa!' Then they asked, 'Can I kiss your feet?' They knelt down and approached my feet, and I told them, 'No, no!' It was a young boy, and you don't know how to react... He ended up kissing my shoes."

Regarding advice from teammates, Leao added:

"I've had important teammates. When I played well, Zlatan Ibrahimovic didn't say anything. But when I played poorly, he made himself heard, focusing on technical issues and details. When I made mistakes, he emphasized, 'With the quality and talent you possess, you can't afford mistakes; you have to aim for the goal.'"

On teammates who assisted him upon arriving in Milan, Leao said:

"Ismaël Bennacer helped me. We have a great relationship; he's like a brother to me, and I hope he returns soon. There isn't one specific incident; he supported me daily and continues to be a significant support. He is truly like a brother to me."