Portuguese-Angolan star Rafael Leão reveals he turned down Inter before AC Milan move

Rafael Leão has disclosed that he was on the verge of joining Inter Milan before AC Milan swooped to sign him from Lille in 2019, a twist that shaped one of Serie A’s biggest attacking stories.

The 25-year-old forward, who represents Portugal internationally but has Angolan roots through his parents, told the Say Less podcast that Lille’s hierarchy had already lined up a deal with Inter but he resisted the move.

“I was about to go to Inter, crazy. The sporting director (of Lille) told me: ‘Rafa, we’re about to sell you to Inter,’” Leão recalled.

“I said: ‘No, I’ve done very well this season, 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.”

Leão explained that weeks later Lille returned with news that AC Milan were interested. “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…’ he put me through to Paolo Maldini, not a normal call but a video call. Maldini said: ‘You have to come, we’re ready to take you.’ I accepted, I replied, I couldn’t say no.”

Asked why Milan ultimately won him over, Leão pointed to the club’s rich heritage. “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.”

Leão has since become one of Milan’s cornerstones, helping them to the 2022 Scudetto and emerging as one of Serie A’s most electrifying forwards.