"Inter called sporting director Luis Campos and said they were interested. I wasn't sure, but in the past I'd followed and heard about Milan with Maldini, Ronaldinho my idol. Not Inter. I said: I'll stay another year. We finished second in the league and would have played in the Champions League the following year. But then he told me: Milan wants you."
"I think the deal will be done in a few days. In training you play the first part, not the second. No risk. They told me: someone wants to speak to you in ten minutes. Facetime, Maldini. He asked me how I was, told me they'd followed me during the season, asked me if I wanted to be part of the Rossoneri family. And I went straight to the signing."
Rafael Leão joined AC Milan from Lille in the summer of 2019 and became one of Serie A's prominent players, winning the League MVP when Milan claimed the 2021–22 title. Under Massimiliano Allegri this season, Leão is deployed centrally in a 3-5-2 and continues to contribute despite managing a physical issue; he scored the equaliser against Como and moved level with Christian Pulisic as Milan's top scorer. Inter expressed interest through sporting director Luis Campos, but Leão declined while awaiting Milan's approach. Paolo Maldini contacted Leão via FaceTime, invited him to join the Rossoneri family, and Leão signed.
Read at SempreMilan
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