Rafael Leão confirms he attempted to talk Barcelona star into AC Milan move | OneFootball

AC Milan star Rafael Leão has on Tuesday admitted that he recently moved to convince a headline member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona to join him in Serie A.

The player in question? João Cancelo.

Full-back Cancelo, of course, linked up with the aforementioned Barcelona on loan last summer.

After again being deemed surplus to requirements by Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola, the 29-year-old put pen to paper on a season-long loan deal in Catalunya’s capital.

Cancelo has since gone on to establish himself as a pivotal figure in boss Xavi’s defence, on his way to four goals and four assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.

And yet, as alluded to above, had one of the defender’s fellow countrymen had his way, Cancelo could well have been plying his trade back in Italy this season.

Speaking in an interview with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday, AC Milan winger Rafael Leão admitted that he made contact with his compatriot, prior to his move to Barcelona, to talk up the Rossoneri as a potential landing spot:

“I was talking with João Cancelo and he liked AC Milan… so I told João: okay, come to AC Milan! He was at Man City, I tried… but it was difficult. It was like the perfect match for him to join our new era.”

Conor Laird | GSFN