Rafael Leao has spoken about turning down Inter before joining Milan, the Paolo Maldini FaceTime call that sealed the deal, and what it is like to train alongside Luka Modric, in a long appearance on the Brazilian podcast Podpah, relayed by MilanNews.
Leao's future is the loudest open question at Milanello right now. He told Portuguese television before the World Cup that he considers his Milan chapter finished, and there is genuine movement behind it, with Fenerbahce now leading Galatasaray in the race for the winger. So every word he says about the club, past or present, gets read for signals. Most of what he offered here was warm rather than pointed, but he did not close the door either.
The Inter detail is the one Milan fans will enjoy most. Leao says the Nerazzurri pushed for him even though he was set to join their rivals, and that he refused outright. "I said no, I asserted myself. Even if they were playing in the Champions League. No, I don't want to go, mate," he said. Days later his agent told him Milan were about to call. The call came from Maldini, on FaceTime. "He said, 'Hi, Rafael. You already know that Milan is interested; we see a great future in you and we want to bring you here.' I said, 'Oh, I'll come right away.' I couldn't say no."
He was self-deprecating about his first season, remembering "eight goals, six goals" and joking about the modern bar for a forward. "You score 10 goals, only 10 goals, damn it. 10 goals is a lot of goals," he said, needling the Haaland and Mbappe era of inflated numbers.
On Modric, who has just extended, Leao was unreserved. He said he asked the Croatian during Portugal's meeting with Croatia whether he would carry on. "He's another mentor to me. He's the best midfielder I've ever played with," Leao said, describing a 40-year-old who still trains at 100% and threads passes that look impossible until they arrive.
Then the future. Pushed by the hosts, Leao confirmed he has raised the idea of a new experience with the club. "I've already spoken to the club about the possibility of trying a new experience. I don't know if it will happen. I have to show up on the 29th, and while I'm there, I'll give it my all," he said, before adding he "could also remain an AC Milan player." He spoke fondly of Corinthians, where he has been training, and said Brazil appeals to him one day, though not São Paulo, too cold.
For context, Milan paid around €30m to sign Leao from Lille in 2019 and later handed him a deal running to 2028 with a €175m release clause, so any exit this summer is theirs to price, not the buyer's. The words are affectionate, but affection has never stopped a transfer. The 29th is the date to circle, and Milan, not Leao, will decide what a serious offer looks like.