MilanNews.it
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© photo by DANIELE MASCOLO
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Rafael Leao gave a long interview to DAZN microphones. Here are his words:
On the early days at Milan: “I arrived in a different league, I was only 19, when you arrive at a great club like Milan it’s not easy. But everyone gave me a hand, this was important.”
On Ibrahimovic: “When you are on the pitch with him you always have to give your best. I lacked continuity on the pitch, but now I’m a different player. Ibra must always be listened to, he tells me that when I enter the field I have to take the ball and go. When feel this confidence of the teammates is important “.
Su Pioli: “Despite the difficulties, Pioli made me play and placed me as a starter. It is thanks to him that I became the current player. He gave me the right mentality because he is someone who pushed me to always believe in myself. He said to me: ‘You have talent, but you lack a bit of a winning mentality. If you want to reach the level of Mbappé and Ronaldo, you have to make a difference in all games, otherwise you are a trivial player’ “.
About his growth and his family: “Something clicked in my head when I talked to my personal trainer and my family and I said I wanted to show everyone who I was. I also want to do well for my family because if I’m here it’s also thanks to them. I hear from my mom every day. My dad always wanted me to finish school before becoming a footballer. With my first salary I took home my parents. ”
On what he misses: “I’m not a ‘matador’ striker yet, but I want to become one. With dribbling I can make a difference, but I have to score more. I can also do it starting from the left.”
On the comparison with Henry: “He is a great player, I am still a young man who wants to reach those levels. I want to make my way and my path and make history here at Milan. Who am I inspired by? Mbappè”.
On the surfer’s exultation: “Surfers sometimes make the wrong wave, but then they get back on the board and do well. I think it’s the right way to think: you can try and make mistakes but you have to keep learning, find solutions in the face of mistakes made” .
On the chorus of the fans: “It’s very nice, he gives me great confidence to do better and better.”
On teammates: “Who writes more about the Whats App group? Ibra who often makes fun of Saelemaekers because he still doesn’t speak Italian well and is wrong. So we all laugh together”.
On who is the fastest of the team: “Theo and I challenge each other. We have to do a speed race in training. My understanding with Theo? If the opposing defenders follow me, there is more space for him. For me he is one of the strongest left-backs in the world, a fundamental element for our team. ”
On the renewal: “I’m fine here, Milan is my home. I’ve been here for three years. I want to make history here, I want my name, when I finish playing, to be in the Milan museum. I’m fine here, I’ve already started to talk about the renewal with my lawyers “.
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