Olivier Giroud hails Milan’s Rafael Leao: “Has everything”

Former AC Milan player Olivier Giroud, who turns 38 today, has spoken heart-warming words about his former club. It is also the French footballer’s first birthday outside of Europe, mostly away from Milan.

Giroud gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport. He spoke about his new life in the United States and talked about his old club Milan.

“I am happy in Los Angeles, I found a beautiful structure, in MLS you feel like you are part of a growing movement. But Italian football, Milan, the unique atmosphere of San Siro, the warmth of the fans, Milanello, and all the people who work there… Impossible to forget. I left a family,” said Giroud.

When he was asked about Rafael Leao and others, he emphasized that he believed in Leao from the very first day.

“Rafa is a technical leader, he drags people on the pitch, like Theo. You have to understand one thing: everyone has their own personality, you cannot force a boy’s character expecting charisma at all costs, that is what Maignan is for.

“Rafa and Theo have an impact with their plays and goals. When I played in Dallas, a fan asked me if Leao was as good as Henry. I replied that you cannot compare a champion who has had his whole career with a boy who is only 25 years old.

“Let’s wait and do the math at the end: Rafa has everything, the hardest thing is to be at 100% of his potential every week. It depends on him, on how demanding he is with himself. Fatherhood will help him grow.”

He was also asked if he had watched the derby against Inter, he said:

“How could I have missed it? I made a video call to the boys in the locker room, we celebrated together. I spoke to my friend Armando Sciacca, the physiotherapist, and I said to him: ‘I am ready to talk to the boys, let’s do it’. It was beautiful.”

Another Scudetto and Champions League

He strongly believes that Milan could win another Scudetto this year and talked about his reasons: “The club conducted a great transfer window. Reinforcements have been made, and those who were already there have started off great, like Pulisic. We will understand better in a month: if Milan is still among the top teams and the standings remain tight, I see points of comparison with my Scudetto [winning team].”

“The attack. After I left, they diversified well… Morata, Abraham, Rafa, Pulisic, Jovic, Okafor, Chukwueze. How many are there, 7? I do not know if in Italy and Europe, there are teams that can boast so much variety, and it is complementarity,” he said about the attack of AC Milan.

When it was mentioned that the Champions League had started with a defeat to Liverpool, a player who had not had the opportunity to play in the new format shared his thoughts. “The new formula gives you time to climb back up. Milan must be ambitious: aiming for the Champions League is a must. Because the squad is deep and the attack is of a high level, as I said. In Europe, those who have quality in attack win.

“Fonseca will have to find balance but now he can work with serenity. And I know that the lads are happy with the training: the group follows him. I think it is the right year to have a good run in the Champions League.”

Always a Milanista

Of course, hearing these words made the fans happy. “He is always a Milan player in his heart,” he made everyone think, and the intervening distances cannot be an obstacle to that.

It should be noted that between 2021 and 2024 when he was in Milan, the football player played 132 games. He scored 49 goals and made 20 assists in these games.

He also won Serie A with AC Milan in the 2021/22 season. It was AC Milan’s first Serie A title in 10 years, and Giroud was delighted to be a part of that history.

Nargiz Mammadzada | GIFN