Rafael Leao, shared his story in a ‘unique’ interview on the ’19F’ podcast. Some interesting statements and anecdotes from Milan’s nr 10.
Rafael Leao, Milan’s winger, opened up in the ’19F’ podcast. Alongside Moise Kean, Capo Plaza, and Shaila Gatta, the Rossoneri’s top player shared interesting statements and anecdotes. Here are Leao’s words.
ON HIS FATHER’S INFLUENCE
“Of the advices received throughout his life and career my dad always gave me different ones: He would say, ‘never give up, stay close to family, always believe in yourself‘ – that was his best advice. My father has been crucial for me and he still is.
He left his job to watch my games. If I had been alone with my mom, all this wouldn’t have happened. When he went to work in Angola for six months, I had a crisis with football. I was still at Sporting, the sporting director called and said it would be better if I looked for another club. I called my dad, and he came back immediately. I thought I was bigger and more mature than I actually was, but without him, I struggle to interpret situations well. When he left, I realized how crucial he was.”
WHEN MILAN FANS WANTED TO KISS HIS FEET
On the strangest thing that happened to him in football: “I was at a restaurant in Milan with some of my Portuguese friends. As we were about to leave, I turned left, and there were several ‘Rossoneri’ fans calling me, ‘Rafa, Rafa!’ Then they asked, ‘Can I give you a kiss on the feet?’ They knelt down and approached my feet, and I said, ‘No, no!’ They were some young guys, and in that situation, you don’t know how to react… One of them kissed my shoes.”
ON ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC AND HIS ‘BROTHER’ BENNACER
On advice from teammates: “Yes, I’ve always had many important teammates. When I played well, Zlatan Ibrahimovic wouldn’t say anything, he wouldn’t talk to me. When I played poorly, he made himself heard, but always on technical matters, on details. And sometime when i couldn’t control the ball, he would say, ‘With the quality and talent you have, you can’t miss a simple task, you have to stop it and attack the goal.'”
On teammates who helped him the most when he arrived in Milan: “Ismaël Bennacer helped me a lot. I have a great relationship with him; he’s like my brother, and I hope he makes it back soon. He really helped me every day and supported me a lot. He’s truly like a brother.”
