Serginho has given his verdict on Milan’s summer so far, backing Gonçalo Ramos to end the club’s long struggle with the No.9 shirt and describing Rafael Leão as the best player in the current group.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Rossoneri full-back covered Ruben Amorim’s appointment, the centre-forward question and the ongoing uncertainty over Leão, all live threads for a squad still shaping itself in pre-season.
On Amorim, Serginho pointed to the coach's work in Portugal while accepting the difficulties that followed at Old Trafford. "He did a wonderful job at Sporting Lisbon; then what happened in Manchester happened because it’s hard to get results there," he said. "I hope that here at Milan, Amorim can find his way of playing, of bringing joy, success, and beautiful play, because the Rossoneri fans aren’t used to just winning. He’s having time to adapt to the new culture, and I really hope he can help Milan return to being a protagonist."
Asked whether it is right to dream of a second star, Serginho reflected on the points Milan dropped last season. "Last year, Milan had a great chance of winning the Scudetto because if we hadn’t dropped so many points against the small and medium-sized teams, especially at home," he said, adding that Milan, Juventus and Inter "must always aim for the top" despite carrying "a very heavy shirt."
The centre-forward role is where his optimism sharpened. The No.9 has troubled a string of players since Pippo Inzaghi, with Olivier Giroud the exception, and Ramos is the latest to take it on. "I think the curse of the number 9, as they say in Italy, can be broken by Ramos," Serginho said. "As a Milan fan, I really hope we’ve found the right man: at PSG, he demonstrated his quality, and I hope he’s the centre forward the club has been looking for for a long time, someone capable of scoring a lot of goals."
On Leão, whose future has hung over the summer, Serginho left the door open while placing the decision squarely with the player. "He’s had many ups and downs in the last two seasons, but he remains a very important player; for me, the best in this group," he said. "I hope he thinks carefully about his future: marriages can end, but I’m convinced that as long as he’s here, he’ll give his all." His advice leaned on the weight of the jersey: "The AC Milan shirt is incredibly heavy and will always remain the AC Milan shirt. The final decision on what to do, however, is up to him alone."
He also singled out Francesco Camarda as the young player he is watching for 2026-27, noting the striker's difficult loan at Lecce but praising his showing in the friendly against Celtic. "His qualities are unquestionable," Serginho said, hoping the forward can force his way into the picture this season.
For Milan, the two questions Serginho circled are the ones the whole summer turns on: whether Ramos finally settles the No.9, and whether Leão is still here to answer his own.