Rafael Leao has revealed that he tried to persuade one Manchester City player to join AC Milan.
It is commonplace in football for players to reach out to fellow professionals to try and convince them to sign for their clubs.
Bernardo Silva once hinted that if possible, he would put a word in to ensure Joao Neves becomes a Manchester City player one day.
Leao says he spoke to one City player about joining AC Milan
Leao would presumably be pally with several City players as they have some Portuguese players on their books.
Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias are arguably two of Portugal’s best players.
So is City loanee Joao Cancelo, who is up there when it comes to being one of the finest players his country has at their disposal.
Speaking of Joao Cancelo, Rafael Leao revealed that he spoke to his countryman to convince him to sign for AC Milan.
Speaking to Fabrizio Romano, the 24-year-old said: “I can say one thing. National team, I was talking with [Joao] Cancelo because he played for Inter and he told me, ‘Honestly, I really like [AC] Milan. Milan is a club, I used to play in the stadium against them, I felt the supporters and when I was a kid, I really liked the club.’ And I told him, ‘Yeah, come!’
“He told me, ‘It’s difficult’, he was at Manchester City and he told me, ‘It’s difficult, I’m at Manchester City.’ I tried because our new era at Milan is about young players with talent so Cancelo is in the middle and [he] was like a perfect match.”
Could AC Milan be a possible summer destination for Cancelo?
With Rafael Leao being the poster-boy of AC Milan, perhaps the club may grant him his wish and make a move for Joao Cancelo.
In March, the 29-year-old admitted that he wished his loan move to Barcelona became permanent — effectively signalling the end of his time at Manchester City.
City would be looking for buyers for the Portuguese international, who has now spent one and a half seasons on loan.
Barcelona would be at the front of the queue, with club president Jorge Mendes stating he is keen to strike a permanent deal for the versatile full-back.
But if the Catalan giants’ financial problems persist, Manchester City could view AC Milan as a possible destination for Joao Cancelo, as he plays alongside Rafael Leao.
