Rafael Leao reveals he snubbed Inter move before Milan and Maldini’s call | OneFootball

Milan star Rafael Leao reveals he snubbed a move to Inter in 2019 just a few days before receiving a call from Paolo Maldini.

Portuguese star Leao reveals he snubbed a move to Inter in the summer of 2019, just a few days before joining Milan on a permanent deal from Lille.

Leao reveals he was ‘about’ to join Inter

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 17: Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Coppa Italia match between AC Milan and SSC Bari at Stadio San Siro on August 17, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I can tell the story before I came here. I was about to go to Inter,” Leao told Say Less Podcast.

“The sports director told me: ‘Rafa, we are about to sell you to Inter.’ I said no. ‘I did well this season. I want to stay one more season to build my name and feel more comfortable for the next challenge.’ It was my first professional season. He said it was a good opportunity for them and for me, big money. But I said ‘No, Inter no.’

“After a couple of weeks, the director returned and said Milan were interested,” Leao continued.

“I was like: ‘Milan, yeah.’ If they come with an offer, I will accept. In a couple of days, he said they’d come with an offer and then said: ‘Someone wants to talk to you.’ He passed me the phone, and it was Maldini: ‘You have to come,’ Bro, done.”

Why did he decide to join Milan?

“You can’t say no. Since I was a kid, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka, and Seedorf. Those kinds of players you used to watch and hear a lot of history,” Leo replied.

Leao: ‘Between Inter and Milan, Milan 100 times’

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 17: Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates with his team-mate Christian Pulisic after scoring the opening goal during the Coppa Italia match between AC Milan and SSC Bari at Stadio San Siro on August 17, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Seven Champions League victories, only Real Madrid beat them. Between Inter and Milan, Milan 100 times.

“When Maldini called me, I was at the hotel during the pre-season. I was in Portugal, just waiting for the day to come.

“I came [to Milan] with my family, I spent one night at a hotel. I realised how big this club is when I played my first game at home. Bro, crazy. The crowd, the stadium full. When I won the league, too. It’s something a player needs to feel to understand how important or big to play for Milan. Crazy.”

Leao has scored 71 goals and provided 62 assists in 261 matches with Milan, but is currently injured, and the Rossoneri hope to see him return over the weekend for a home Serie A match against Napoli.

Leao has been living in Milan for six years now and has been enjoying the Italian way of living, its food, culture and more.

“Milano is a nice city. It’s kind of similar to Lisbon. I feel like home,” he said.

“The weather is nice, good food and good places to go. In Lisbon, you have different cultures. The way you live there, people are more open. In Italy, people respect the history and culture a lot. When you come here, you need to respect how they live, everything. It was good for me to learn. I can here when I was 19. Before I was in France, but Italy helped me grow up a lot.”

Leao’s contract with Milan expires in June 2028 and includes a €175m release clause. The Portuguese star has also scored five goals in 40 international appearances.