“I grew up watching Ronaldinho and Robinho” - Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal teammate says he moulded game around Brazil icons
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal teammate Rafael Leao recently opened up about the areas he needed to improve in his gameplay. The AC Milan winger also talked about idolizing the likes of Ronaldinho and Robinho growing up and moulding his game around them.
Leao argued that he needed to be more selfish in front of goal to improve his numbers, as that was what the modern game demanded. He pointed out that since he idolized Ronaldinho and Robinho, his focus was more on dribbling and creating for his teammates.
He told Portuguese outlet O Jogo:
"It's very simple: be more selfish in front of goal. I grew up watching Ronaldinho and Robinho, who didn't have that eye for goal. My goal was to dribble and make assists. Now football has changed, it's more about statistics, and I've been trying to live up to the goals and assists. You can play great games and people say you were average. That's why I have to be more decisive, make assists or goals.”
Leao has been named in the Portugal side for their upcoming UEFA Nations League games, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. The Selecao will face Poland and Croatia on Friday, November 15, and Monday, November 18, respectively.
Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo has been Portugal's main man so far in the ongoing campaign of the Nations League, with three goals in four matches. But the 25-year-old Leao is confident he can deliver if head coach Roberto Martinez prefers him in the left-wing spot.
How Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal teammate Rafael Leao has fared for AC Milan
Leao joined AC Milan from LOSC Lille in the 2019 summer transfer window for a reported sum of €49.50 million. The winger almost immediately became a mainstay in the Rossoneri first team, registering 33 appearances across competitions in his first term.
He finished his first season in Italy with six goals and three assists and added seven more goals and six assists the next term. The 2021/22 season saw him take his game to the next level, crossing the 10-goal mark in Serie A and finishing with 14 goals and 12 assists across competitions.
The 2022/23 season was his best in AC Milan colors as he scored 16 and assisted 15 goals across competitions. Last season, while a hamstring injury briefly affected his campaign, he still finished with 15 goals and 14 assists across competitions.
The winger has started the ongoing campaign in style as well, with three goals and five assists in 14 matches so far.