Amorim on Leão: ‘He’s lucky to be at a club like Milan’ | OneFootball

Rúben Amorim has sent a pointed message to Rafael Leão on the eve of his first Milan derby, insisting the forward should feel fortunate to represent the club amid ongoing questions over his future.

With quotes via Tuttomercatoweb, the Milan coach was speaking before Wednesday’s pre-season meeting with Inter in Perth.

Asked about Leão, whose exit had looked likely before offers so far failed to materialise, Amorim struck a firm but warm note.

“Rafa is lucky to be at a club like Milan, so he should be happy. I feel that he’s happy and motivated,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen between now and the end of the window, but I feel the group is really united. I haven’t heard or seen any difference in Leão compared to the other lads.”

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks on from the substitutes bench prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Amorim keeps Milan’s focus on Torino opener over derby

The Portuguese, who confirmed Luka Modrić would feature, kept his focus on the season opener against Torino on 23 August rather than the friendly. “Being pre-season champions isn’t important,” he said. “The only thing that really counts is when the referee blows for kick-off in Turin.”

Amorim was at his most eloquent, though, on Franco Baresi, whose funeral took place in Milan on Tuesday. “I think I’m the last person who should talk about Baresi, because I’ve been here two minutes,” he said.

“When you talk about him with the communications staff, they have tears in their eyes. Nobody mentions the Champions Leagues or the Scudetti he won. Everyone says one thing: ‘When we went to Serie B, he didn’t leave us.’ He’s teaching us that success matters for our ego, but what really counts is your character and who you are. Franco was all for the team. That’s his legacy, and we’ll carry it forward.”