Paolo Maldini says Arsenal transfer target Rafael Leao is AC Milan’s ‘best player’ after he was absent through injury for their Champions League semi-final clash against Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old has been strongly linked to Premier League clubs ahead of the summer transfer window opening.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been one of the teams looking at Rafael Leao’s services, but he has now put all of that to bed by penning a new contract – he was being likened to Wilfried Zaha.
As posted by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, the all-action winger has signed a new deal until 2028.
But whilst that was positive news for the AC Milan faithful, their key performer had to watch from the stands as his team lost 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final European tie against Inter last night, which would have been a hard pill to swallow.
Legendary defender Paolo Maldini stated that Leao will be ‘okay’ for the return match, as he called him Milan’s ‘best player’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (10/05/23 at 7:40 pm).
“He is our best player,” said Maldini. “And he was the best player of last season.
“But it is what it is. We have this kind of mentality that we don’t cry about injuries. Of course, for the return match, he is going to be okay.”
LEAO HAS MADE THE RIGHT CALL
The Portugal international would have had many tempting offers to leave the San Siro and join the bright lights of the Premier League.
But he is only 23, he has plenty of time left and he is at one of the great clubs of European football that is now back on its feet, so he has made the right call to stay on board.
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