Stefano Pioli is hoping to see Wolverhampton Wanderers target Rafael Leao stay at the San Siro and believes he could ‘explode’ in the colours of AC Milan next season, speaking to Sky Italia.
As any young forward rising through the ranks at Sporting Lisbon will tell you, it is not long before you are compared to the incomparable.
But Cristiano is not the only ‘Ronaldo’ who Leao has been tipped to emulate since exploding onto the scene in his native Portugal.
Before sealing a £32 million to Milan, the 21-year-old was compared to the Brazilian Ronaldo by former Sporting coach Thiago Fernandes, who believes he has the ‘pace, technique and finishing’ to become the second coming of O Fenomeno (TMW).
No wonder Wolves are keen then.
Calciomercato reported a fortnight ago that another Jorge Mendes client is in the sights of the Black Country giants.
Though, after putting pen to paper on a new contract at Milan, Rossoneri boss Pioli is praying that he will be able to call upon one of Europe’s hottest prospects over the next few years.
“[Leao] has enormous potential, it’s right to have great expectations of him. He’s growing – this year will really help him for next season,” said the former Inter coach of a forward who moved to Italy after a brief spell at Lille.
“He does much better in training than in the matches, but he will get there. [Against Atalanta], he was positive, but he can do more.
“He has the quality to open up games, from the beginning or coming off the bench. Next year, he could explode, or at least be more consistent.”
So far Leao has only started 11 Serie A games, though he already has five goals to his name.
And the Portugal U21 star can only benefit from sharing a dressing room with the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the San Siro.
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