Milan: Rafael Leao heads to Qatar with the world at his toes and a World Cup in his sights, certainly one of Europe’s rising stars able to take up the mantle of fading Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The undoubted star at AC Milan, the place his flamboyant wing play introduced final season’s Serie A title, the 23-year-old Portugal attacker has developed from a proficient however inconsistent teen to a confirmed match-winner.
His six objectives and 9 assists in all membership competitions this season have helped put Milan again within the combine for the Scudetto in Italy and within the final 16 of the Champions League for the primary time in 9 years.
Fleet of foot and blessed with excellent steadiness, Leao additionally has correct distribution and a mind for purpose, and below coach Stefano Pioli he has develop into the one to observe each time he seems for Milan.
In some methods his profession has mirrored the early years of veteran Ronaldo, who has been out of favour at Manchester United and going by way of a speedy decline in each performances and standing within the twilight of his profession.
Ronaldo was additionally thought of a present pony when he got here by way of at United practically twenty years in the past, a uncooked teenager who was but to show into the purpose machine who got here up with the products when it mattered.
“I made the leap because of the arrival of Pioli (in 2019)… He gave me the correct mentality and at all times inspired me to imagine in myself,” Leao mentioned to DAZN in March, earlier than claiming the Italian title.
“He at all times instructed me that I used to be proficient however that I didn’t have the successful mentality, that if I needed to get to the identical degree as (Kylian) Mbappe or Ronaldo I wanted to make an influence in each single match.”
Like Ronaldo, Leao got here by way of at Sporting Lisbon and he has been in comparison with Mbappe — and people two are the gamers he aspires to be like.
Ronaldo aspirations
Former Sporting youth coach Tiago Fernandes mentioned in 2019 that he believed Leao was the very best participant within the historical past of the membership’s academy — even higher than Ronaldo as a youth participant.
“I needed to indicate everybody who I actually was, even when I’m not but a real goalscorer like Mbappe or Ronaldo,” Leao mentioned earlier this yr.
“These two are the 2 attackers I examine on YouTube and who encourage me. I need to get to their degree.”
Leao’s profession exploded into life in France at Lille after he unilaterally ended his contract with Sporting in 2018 when followers invaded the membership’s coaching floor.
The authorized wrangles which resulted from that transfer — Leao has to pay Sporting 20 million euros ($20.2m) — have bubbled within the background as he approaches a event that would see him take the step as much as the subsequent degree.
Milan are attempting to get Leao to increase his present deal, which runs to 2024, and Italian media report that they’re providing 6-7 million euros a yr in an try and stave off curiosity from the Premier League.
Chelsea made a casual bid for Leao within the final shut season, and Milan director Paolo Maldini mentioned in September that “nobody is unsellable” for a membership that may now not wave round a bulging pockets as in the course of the salad days of Silvio Berlusconi.
Portuguese sports activities each day Document additionally claimed that Maldini met with Sporting director Frederico Varandas twice as a part of discussions over Leao’s debt, with presently round a fifth of his annual wage being taken to pay again his former membership.
Milan are reportedly making an attempt to chop a cope with the Portuguese aspect within the hope it is going to persuade Leao to remain long-term on the San Siro — which followers are packing out thanks partly to Leao’s growth into one of many world’s most enjoyable skills.
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