Warned: Ibrahimovic has told Rafael Leao to stay at AC Milan
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Zlatan Ibrahimovic has warned AC Milan teammate Rafael Leao off of a move to Chelsea.
The Portugal forward has been of long-standing interest to the Stamford Bridge giants, who considered a move over the course of the summer.
While his country’s World Cup quarter-final exit was disappointing, the 23-year-old scored twice and emerged as a genuine option should Cristiano Ronaldo’s time with the national team soon come to an end.
The former Lille forward’s contract in Milan will expire in the summer of 2024 and though there has been talk of an extension, nothing has yet been signed.
Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are committed to further spending even after a record-breaking summer and will back manager Graham Potter.
The Blues boss has made little secret of his admiration for Leao, admitting: “You can see his quality and what he brings” after a Champions League meeting between the two clubs earlier this season.
Still, Ibrahimovic believes his teammate would be better suited to staying at San Siro in order to further his development.
“Of course, Milan is the right environment for him,” Ibrahimovic told Sky Sport Italia.
“Just look at his growth, when he arrived, he was far from the decisive player he is today. Here he is very important for us, elsewhere would he be as important?
“He would have to start from scratch, you can’t be sure he would be ready right away.”
