Rafael Leão’s future is away from Milan. The Rossoneri number 10 has reiterated his desire to move on after seven years, also in a long interview given to Sport TV in Portugal.
On the future:
"I need a new challenge. I have already won two trophies in Italy and I have been there for a while. It is a league that is evolving, but for my style of football the Premier League or La Liga would showcase my talent and me as a player more. If the opportunity of the Premier League were to come, I would be very happy: I think I would be able to measure my talent against players who are at a very high level. Playing in that type of league really enhances the player."
On the season just ended:
"It was a difficult season. We did not reach the Champions League. I played injured for 4–5 months with pubalgia, in a position that is not mine. The tactical system did not help me. I felt I could make a difference, but the way the team played did not put me in a position to do so. In the end it becomes draining."
On his arrival at Milan in 2019 and the phone call with Maldini
"There had previously been interest from Inter. Luís Campos told me they were thinking of selling me. I said I wanted to stay another year. Then a few days later he told me that Milan would come forward with a €25 million offer. And he told me that someone wanted to speak to me. A few hours later they passed me a phone and… Maldini, Maldini was speaking to me. I could not say no. I received good energy from him."
On his relationship with Ibrahimović:
"He is a good person, but if you are psychologically weak, you can be influenced. His approach can sometimes seem negative. If you are someone who feels immediately attacked by the way he speaks to you, you will feel bad. He is not the type to give you a pat on the back, not even in training. Personally, for me he has always been very important. He has helped me on and off the pitch. He is an idol. Having him in the squad always intimidated the opposition team as well. And for me, who can sometimes be a bit distracted, he always kept me alert every minute of the game."
On Stefano Pioli, Leao said:
"We spent many years together and from the second year he began to understand me better as a person and gave me that freedom to express my talent. He prepared the team very well: I was simply free to play football. He is someone who marked my career a lot because he helped me win my first title."
On his position on the pitch:
"As a winger, after dribbling, I have more time to think about whether to shoot, dribble again or cross. But playing as a second striker I am closer to goal and I have to be more clinical: either you assist or you shoot. It is a detail I need to work on. In the end, football today is based on numbers, and that is the last step I am missing. Am I predictable on the wing? Teams have adapted. When the ball goes to the winger, there are already two or three defenders. By switching from the wing to a second striker role, or central areas, I get closer to goal two or three times during the match and then go wide again. This makes my game more unpredictable."
