AC Milan attacker Leao: I was joining Inter Milan before Maldini called

AC Milan attacker Leao: I was joining Inter Milan before Maldini called

Rafael Leao admits he was close to joining Inter Milan before signing with AC Milan.

The Portugal attacker left Lille for Milan in 2019.

Leao recalled on the Say Less podcast: "I was about to go to Inter, crazy. The sporting director (of Lille) told me: 'Rafa, we're about to sell you to Inter,' I said: 'No, I've done very well this season (referring to the season with Lille), I want to stay another season to improve even more and increase my confidence for the next challenge.'

"But he said no, no, I have to sell you, it's a great opportunity for you, for us, it's a lot of money. But I said no to Inter.

"A week, two, three weeks went by and the sporting director came back to me and said: 'Milan are interested in you.' I said: 'Yes, Milan are, if they come with an offer, I'll accept.'

"After two days he came back and said: 'They've brought the offer, someone wants to talk to you,' he put me through to Paolo Maldini, not a normal call but a video call. (Former director Paolo) Maldini said: 'You have to come, we're ready to take you.' I accepted, I replied, I couldn't say no."

Why did AC Milan convince you?

"Since I was a child, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka, Seedorf, those players you saw or heard about, were history. And you know, seven Champions Leagues, only Real Madrid has more. Between AC Milan and Inter, AC Milan a hundred times over."