‘The perfect match’ – Leao reveals attempt to bring Cancelo to AC Milan from Man City

Rafael Leao has admitted that he tried to bring Joao Cancelo to AC Milan after the full-back admitted that he has liked the club since he was younger.

Leao and Cancelo obviously know each other well from the Portuguese national team and the latter knows Serie A too given that he spent a season on loan at Inter from Valencia in 2017-18 and then signed for Juventus at the end of his loan spell.

The 29-year-old joined Manchester City in 2019 and was a key part of the dynasty that Pep Guardiola built, but then things turned a bit and he spent time on loan at Bayern Munich before moving to Barcelona – also on loan – for this season.

Leao has announced the launch of a new exclusive soccer masterclass which contains many tips and drills for aspiring players. As part of it he did an interview with Fabrizio Romano, and he revealed some interesting background.

What would you say to someone that you want to join you at Milan?

“I can say one thing… in the national team I was talking with Cancelo, because he played for Inter and he told me ‘Honestly I really like Milan, Milan is a nice club. When I used to play in the stadium against them I felt the supporters and when I was a kid I really liked the club’.

“I told him ‘Come!’ But he told me ‘it’s difficult’. He was at Manchester City and he told me that it was difficult. I tried! Our new era at Milan is about young players with talent so Cancelo is in the middle [of his career] and it was the perfect match.”