Milan star Rafael Leao admits he avoids going out the week earlier than the derby in opposition to Inter and says Zlatan Ibrahimovic put ‘good stress’ on him, even when the ex-striker was ‘too demanding.’
Milan star striker Leao spoke about his time with the Rossoneri and the upcoming derby in opposition to Inter in an
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One of many first questions was about his relationship with Ibrahimovic, a RedBird advisor and a former teammate of the Portuguese at San Siro.
“One coaching, younger boys from the youth squad got here to coaching,” Leao mentioned.
“There was a recreation earlier than the tip of coaching. A few of them have been within the Zlatan workforce, they usually misplaced the sport. He was…on one other planet. He went straight to the coach and mentioned: ‘That is the final time they arrive to coaching.’ They didn’t come again.
“It’s a superb stress, for me it was a superb stress. With these guys, you need to study. After they discuss to you, it’s as a result of they care about you, possibly so you might have one thing to assist him and the workforce. In my head, it was good stress, even when he’s demanding, possibly an excessive amount of.
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“Now we have a superb relationship,” Leao continued.
“When he comes, he asks about my household, and we’ve a superb relationship. I feel we spent three years collectively, so it’s somebody who’s helped me so much. It’s somebody Iwant to maintain in my life, additionally off the pitch. I do know that if I would like one thing, I can name him, and he can assist me for positive.”
Milan’s Rafael Leao (R) celebrates along with his teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) after scoring the 2-1 purpose through the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona, in Milan, Italy, 04 June 2023. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI
Ibra and Rafael Leao received the Serie A title with Milan in 2021-22, when the Portuguese was additionally named the league’s finest participant.
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“I didn’t anticipate,” the Portuguese admitted.
“We received the trophy after the sport, and we began taking pictures. One of many workers guys mentioned, ‘Rafa, possibly you’ve been the most effective participant within the league; they’re speaking about you.’ Ten minutes later, they confirmed I had received the award.
“To win the Scudetto and be the most effective participant within the league in the identical 12 months, I by no means anticipated it.
“For positive, it was among the best seasons individually, but it surely’s concerning the workforce and the collective. If the workforce does nicely, you’ll do nicely too. I feel we’re additionally doing very nicely this season. I play in a brand new place and rating targets.”
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With Massimiliano Allegri taking on in 2025-26, Leao has modified his place on the pitch, now deployed as a centre-forward.
“I used to be prepared. Earlier than the season began, I used to be ready for every part,” he mentioned.
“When the coach mentioned I may play in that place, I used to be ready to be there and assist the workforce. If you play as a striker, you might have extra probabilities to attain targets. Soccer now’s about numbers; if you wish to be with the most effective gamers, it’s concerning the numbers.
“I used to play on the wing, extra one-v-one, doing extra assists than scoring targets, so when you rating extra targets and make some assists, you’re near the highest and the most effective gamers. I don’t thoughts enjoying as a striker as a result of if I rating, I will be there.
COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 15: Rafael Leao of AC Milan seems to be on through the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AC Milan at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on January 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Pictures)
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“It was a course of, the primary 12 months wasn’t simple for my household and me. New league, a troublesome league, till now. It was a course of, so I’m glad to be right here and be like a job mannequin within the squad and the membership. I can really feel the love from the surface, additionally from the followers.”
Leao’s physique language and smiles on the pitch have made some wonder if the Portuguese all the time has the utmost dedication through the video games.
“I can’t change myself; even once I was just a little boy, I used to be like this,” he famous.
“At all times with a smile on my face. It’s like this. It’s a approach I can specific my soccer, it’s my ardour, and in addition how I dwell. I can’t change it. If I alter it, it’s not Rafael Leao. It’s not a participant who can assist the workforce and produce one thing new to the video games.”
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Leao’s Milan sit second within the desk, seven factors under Inter. The Rossoneri and Nerazzurri will meet within the Milan derby on the weekend of March 8.
How does Leao often put together for the derby?
“Don’t exit. I imply, exit, have dinner with your loved ones, however then you need to be at residence,” he mentioned.
“I used to say its a loopy week. Everybody tries to get tickets, you see crimson, blue, folks, and newspapers speaking. It’s simply an excessive amount of in that week, so that you’ve received to remain at residence, be centered, save your vitality.
“It’s the most effective recreation of the season, it’s concerning the vitality, it’s a combat. It’s about die or dwell. After the sport, everybody shall be speaking for 2 or three weeks, so die or dwell. And I wanna dwell.
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“It’s a recreation I used to observe earlier than coming to Milan, so now enjoying…I don’t know the best way to specific. The stadium is full, and followers sing from the begin to the tip of the sport. Each single sort out, every part, duel, you need to be there prefer it was the final one.”
Leao and Pulisic are Milan’s stars in assault, however, resulting from accidents, they’ve not often performed collectively this time period.
“Now we all know one another on the pitch. Sadly, this season we’re having some accidents,” Leao admitted.
“We couldn’t hyperlink up on the pitch as we wished, however he’s a superb, good participant. He’s helped Milan for the final two or three seasons. I anticipate so much. When he performs, and I’m on the pitch, I’m like: ‘Yeah, Christian will do one thing.’
“When he arrived, he understood the league quick. He speaks Italian nearly completely, even with an American accent.”