Milan winger Leao says Zlatan Ibrahimovic has asked him to be more ‘agressive’ while new coach Paulo Fonseca is ‘the right coach’ for the team. The 25-year-old was speaking in a lengthy interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, where he touched on the changes at Milan this summer, while also thanking coach Stefano Pioli, who left the club earlier this year:
In your autobiography, “Smile,” there’s a strong phrase: “I can’t open my heart 100% to anyone because I have a terrible fear of being hurt.” Can we talk about that?
“Yes, as a child, I grew up in a neighborhood like Jamaica in Lisbon. People outside the neighborhood looked down on us, there weren’t many people helping us, and I grew up like that. I have a form of protection: I don’t open up, so I feel safer. And then I learn better alone: it hurts more, but that’s how you grow.”
In what sense did “people look down on us”?
“In the area, there were people doing things better left unsaid, and Jamaica was seen as a bad neighborhood. The truth is that people were just looking for a good future and had no opportunities. André, Emmanuel, Paolo, my friends from back then are still my great friends.”
A year ago, in an interview in Los Angeles, you said you wanted to have children soon. Is that still the case?
“Yes, I’m going to be a father soon, father of twins. They should be born in November. I’m sure it will be a very nice experience; I like children. Let’s say I have another reason to value my family and continue working for them.”
Well… congratulations. What will you name them?
“Rodrigo and Tiago.”
So this is a happy moment in Rafa Leao’s life?
“Yes, getting knocked out in the Euro quarter-finals was a difficult moment, but it remains a good experience. The family holidays then did me good: instead of coming here to New Jersey from Miami, I passed through Portugal to see my relatives. It’s they who, in low moments or good ones, stay close to me. Now I’m charged for the season, I’m happy to see my teammates again and have another season with this jersey. I stayed in touch with almost everyone, Florenzi asked me: ‘Are you training?'”
From Instagram, it seems so. There were images of physical training, shooting at goal. Anything special?
“I never do boring training; I try to use them to do what I like. In recent days, I’ve been with my personal trainer, I’ve done shots, headers. These are important things: in front of the goalkeeper, they help me score more goals.”
Speaking of this, a suspicion: isn’t Rafa Leao too good and, because of this, scores little, has little killer instinct in the area?
“When I was little, I liked to dribble and make assists. I watched everyone, especially Xavi and Iniesta who made 30-meter passes, or even just 5 to put a striker in front of the goal. That’s why I’m not selfish. My favorites have always been Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo at United, all those who made incredible plays or passes. I see myself like that, I bring something different.”
And the goals?
“Football now is just numbers, it’s clear that numbers are important but they no longer value talents. Someone who can’t make a pass but scores 30 goals is put above everyone, even those who bring something different. But football is about putting on a show and winning, that’s why they come to see us.”
In short, we’ll never see Leao as a number 9.
“I want to score more goals, it’s clear: I’ll try to do both things, the plays and the goals. On the field I can adapt, I can play close to the striker but now, with more tactical football, teams sit back and occupy the central area a lot. I haven’t played with my back to goal for years and I need space, to see the whole field. I don’t see myself playing as a center-forward soon.”
Much has been written about the meeting with Fonseca in Portugal, before the Euros. What was your first impression?
“He’s a very direct person, he immediately shows what he wants. His teams have always played good football and for strikers it’s top: I see myself well with him and my teammates are happy too. The training sessions are very intense, always with the ball: I think we’ve already understood all his game ideas, it will be nice. Milan’s identity historically is with the ball and here all players are involved in possession: I think he’s the right coach.”
Personal requests?
“He asks me to stay wide, look for the ball, do one-twos to get close to the area.”
This time Morata will be in the area: is he the right acquisition or would others have been better?
“Morata and Giroud are two champions: one left, another came in. Giroud has made Milan history but I also know Morata well, he’s a striker who works and is very mobile, it will be nice for us other attackers. Let’s hope he scores many goals too.”
And Camarda? Do you talk to each other?
“He’s still young but he’s doing very well, I expect a lot from him. I always try to talk to him, make him understand that in the first team it’s different from games with kids his age. He has to be strong, combative. He already knows how to score goals, he needs to learn other things but he’ll be Milan’s future. We older ones are behind him, me too.”
It seems a new Rafa Leao has been born, a wise Rafa…
“Well, I’ve been here for six years already and I’m made this way, I always try to help young people. When I arrived at Milan, the more experienced players gave me a hand. Now it’s our turn.”
Okay… But can Camarda already have some space in Serie A?
“The coach decides, but if he continues to work, he can put a bit of pressure on the others. He has to work 100% and wait for his opportunity.”
Transfer market: Pavlovic, seen up close against Salzburg, is approved?
“He’s strong, tough, good with the ball, has physique. I must say that I also like the other players approached by Milan this summer.”
You, on the other hand, sometimes don’t please people. Many say you’re indolent on the field and indeed, sometimes one thinks so. Are these criticisms fair or unfair?
“People sometimes don’t understand certain things about football but it doesn’t bother me. The only criticisms I listen to are those of my coach, the managers, those who are at Milan. Here they love me, they know where I can go and I know it too: I can be one of the best, not only at Milan but in the world.”
Three quick thoughts on three people. Stefano Pioli: what remains of him?
“He and I grew up together, as coach and player. He helped me, gave me the opportunity to be an important player and I must thank him forever: he will remain in my career as one of the most important coaches.”
The most unfortunate of the tour: Alessandro Florenzi. What does Milan lose with him?
“We lose his experience, in Italy and in Europe, for me and all of us he is very important even off the field. He’s a warrior, he’ll be back.”
The most charged in the United States: Samu Chukwueze. Can he become decisive after a difficult year?
“Yes, yes, when you don’t play much it becomes difficult to show what you can do but, from what I’ve seen, Chuk has more confidence, he wants to have the ball and make a difference. That’s what I was waiting for. If he continues like this, he’ll have a great season.”
Olympic game to close: three names, you have to choose who to give gold, silver and bronze to. As a Portuguese: Eusebio, Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Cris for me is gold, then Eusebio. I give Figo bronze.”
Left wingers: Giggs, Ribery, Ronaldinho.
“Ronaldinho without thinking. Silver to Ribery.”
As a basketball fan: Jordan, Kobe, LeBron.
“Kobe gold, he had a different aura from everyone. Jordan silver, LeBron bronze.”
Rap: Lil Baby, Jay Z, Tupac.
“Tupac gold, I even have his tattoo on my left leg, close to those of Mandela, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Silver to Lil Baby, Jay Z bronze.”
Let’s try in Italy: Lazza, Capo Plaza, Sfera Ebbasta.
“No no, I can’t do this: too many friends.”
And then, a curiosity about tattoos. Have you added any?
“One on my back: ‘Only God can judge me’. It’s the same one Ibra has.”
Here it is, Ibra. Do you talk a lot, now that he’s an executive?
“Yes, we talk. When we played, the friendship was different, I always had him by my side. Now if I need, I know I can call him at any time. He’s one of the people who can take me to another level.”
What advice does he give?
“He talks to me about mentality, says that on the field I have to be more aggressive.”
So there’s a new goal for next year: to be more aggressive. Correct?
“Yes, correct.”
