Zlatan Ibrahimovic has referred to as for AC Milan team-mate Rafael Leao to stay on the Italian facet, the place he believes the 23-year-old has the area to develop right into a high prospect, amid curiosity from abroad.
The Swedish striker urged Leao to stay on the San Siro, citing his already-startling progress as a primary cause why he ought to proceed his growth on the Serie A champions for the foreseeable future.
Leao gained the league title with I Rossoneri in 2021-22, scoring 11 targets and offering 10 assists in 34 video games, and starred for Portugal on the World Cup in Qatar with two targets from the bench.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic urged Rafael Leao to stay at AC Milan and proceed his growth
The ex-Sporting and Lille ahead is but to return to the Italian facet after his exploits in Qatar, and was due to this fact unavailable for his facet’s function within the mid-season pleasant event, the Dubai Tremendous Cup.
‘In fact, Milan is the correct setting for him,’ Ibrahimovic instructed Sky Sports activities in Italy in response to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
‘Simply have a look at his progress. When he arrived, he was removed from the decisive participant he’s right this moment. Right here he is essential for us, elsewhere would he be as essential? He must begin from scratch, you possibly can’t ensure he could be prepared straight away.
‘At Milan he has confidence, area and freedom, which isn’t a given at one other membership, it is as much as you.
Leao scored 11 and assisted 10 targets as AC Milan ended their 11-season look ahead to a Scudetto
‘Moreover, you possibly can see that he’s joyful right here, by now he’s laughing even earlier than scoring. He’s the younger man who has grown probably the most.’
However it’s not simply Leao that has discovered AC Milan an appropriate location to be taught his commerce on the highest degree, with Ibrahimovic pointing to a rising variety of stars to search out their ft on the San Siro.
After an 11-year Serie A drought, Milan lifted the Scudetto on the finish of final season on the again of a facet made up of skilled elite gamers similar to Ibrahimovic, alongside proficient younger stars.
Of all of the younger expertise at present on the San Siro, Ibrahimovic believes the ahead is a reduce above
Leao was one in all these such youthful gamers, alongside Theo Hernandez, Fikayo Tomori and Sandro Tonali, with the membership constructing on that youthful contingent by including Charles de Ketelaere this summer season.
‘Theo has improved a lot, De Ketelaere is robust, and persistence is required,’ added Ibrahimovic. ‘However Leao is on one other degree, above common. He lacks a step, he’ll solely do it when he’s totally satisfied of his skills.
‘As we speak even he would not actually understand how sturdy he’s. Then he might be actually scary. And the value will go up.’
The Swedish striker has performed 45 video games alongside Leao, with the 2 combining for six targets
Chelsea have been one of many sides most commonly linked with an strategy for Leao, and have struggled for targets at occasions this season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is gone his deadly greatest, and Kai Havertz just isn’t an out-and-out goalscorer that may choose up the slack as a false 9 beneath Graham Potter.
And now that Armando Broja has suffered a season-ending knee harm, Leao might discover himself topic of heightened curiosity from the Blues within the coming January switch window.
He’s additionally regarded as on a shortlist at Manchester United alongside fellow teen Cody Gakpo, in response to ESPN experiences.
Chelsea have lengthy been linked with a transfer for the 23-year-old Portuguese star who gained the Serie A title final season
