Man Utd transfer target Rafael Leao's Serie A highlights
James Shearman
- Updated: 19 May 2022 16:23 BST
- 3 min read
Rafael Leao has exploded in 2021-22 as arguably the most exciting and electrifying young talent in Serie A.
The AC Milan attacker is enjoying a breakout season as his team fight for the Scudetto and has subsequently attracted interest from a host of big clubs around Europe.
Indeed, Leao has been linked with a move to Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain by Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.
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His first two seasons at Milan were mixed. He showed flashes of his talent at times but was very raw and inconsistent as he managed just 13 goals and seven assists over those two campaigns.
This season, however, Leao has exploded into one of the most terrifying outside forwards in world football.
Milan's top scorer, he has found the net 14 times in 37 starts and also delivered an impressive nine assists.
As such, the Italian outfit could demand as much as €100 million for Portugal international..
Yet, here are a number of Serie A highlights that vindicate United's interest in the player despite the incredible asking price.
Rafael Leao's AC Milan highlights
Rafael Leao has long been tipped for big things and was labelled as the ‘Portuguese Mbappe’ when AC Milan paid €23m to sign him from Lille as a 20-year-old in 2019.
The 22-year-old is blessed with blistering pace and acceleration and is virtually unstoppable one-on-one when he attacks his man down the left flank.
The way that he glides past the full-back with such ease and elegance is reminiscent of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry during his early days playing as a left-winger for Monaco in the 1990s.
Indeed, Milan coach Stefano Pioli has compared Rafa Leao to Henry himself.
"He has the qualities to reach the top of Europe and the world.
"He reminds me of Henry, but it is true that Rafa must be himself. Leao is an extraordinary player, but he mustn't rest on his laurels."
Like Henry, Leao also often cuts in from either the left-hand side before side-footing low accurate shots into the far or near corner of the net past the goalkeeper.
He is also capable of moments of technical brilliance, such as the stunning bicycle kick that hit the crossbar in the Champions League home clash with Atletico Madrid earlier this season.
Despite his young age, he already has played almost 150 times in his career and he has also broken into a talented Portugal national team squad, winning three caps.
He has arguably become Milan’s most important attacking player now, and his period out of the side due to injury in December coincided with a massive blip for the club.
Rafa Leao is a player who, as Pioli says, has all the attributes to reach the very top.
