Italian journalist Fabrizio Biasin has revealed the backstory of how Antonio Conte pulled the plug on Inter Milan signing Rafael Leao in 2019.
Speaking to the Twitch channel of Italian news outlet Calciomercato.it, via FCInter1908, Biasin explained that the Nerazzurri had been close to signing the Portuguese international from Lille, but that Conte preferred a more experienced forward and so the player went to AC Milan instead.
Leao has certainly proved to be a difference-maker in Serie A for AC Milan over the past couple seasons.
That was not always the case, however. The former Sporting CP and Lille man always looked like a quality player, but did take some time to settle in.
Former Chelsea, Juventus, and Tottenham Hotspur coach Conte is not a coach known to enjoy working with players who need time to develop. Rather, the Italian tactician prefers players who can slot right into his system.
This was the pattern that Conte followed in terms of the players Inter signed for him. Accordingly, the Nerazzurri went for attacking signings whose ability to make an instant impact was evident.
The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez arrived when Conte did. They did help Conte and Inter finish second and then win the title in the short term.
However, in the long term, it may be Inter’s city rivals AC Milan who got the last laugh. The Rossoneri are reaping the rewards of putting their faith in Leao before he was the complete article.
Biasin Confirms That Conte Put The Brakes On Inter Signing Rafael Leao
Inter’s pursuit of Leao in the summer of 2019 was no secret.
Nerazzurri CEO Beppe Marotta has admitted that the Nerazzurri were close to signing the Portuguese at the time. However, they then moved onto other targets.
Italian journalist Biasin has provided further context to why Inter did not sign Leao. He believes that then-Nerazzurri coach Conte played a big role.
He explained, “Inter had been ready to sign Leao for a few million euros. But the coach at the team [Conte] wanted players who would be ready, not who needed time to work on.”