Ricci hails Milan teammate Leao: ‘Even he doesn’t realise how talented he is’ – Football Italia

Samuele Ricci has described his Milan teammate Rafael Leao as “a player who can really make the difference for us”, telling the Gazzetta dello Sport that “maybe even he doesn’t realise how strong and talented he is.”

Speaking in a lengthy interview with Gazzetta, Ricci also revealed that as a child, he “had a soft spot for Milan” and that new head coach Massimiliano Allegri “knows all the tricks” after his playing experience as a midfielder.

Ricci joined Milan this summer for €23 million from Torino and the 23-year-old made an instant impact, being one of the Rossoneri’s best players in their first two pre-season friendlies against Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool.

Ricci: ‘It’s better to have Leao as a teammate’ at Milan

Ricci was asked if it is better having Rafael Leao as a teammate than when he would face the winger whilst playing for Torino: “Yes, definitely better as a teammate. We all know Rafa’s qualities, he is a player who can really make the difference for us. Maybe even he doesn’t realise how strong and talented he is. If he puts himself at the service of the team, he is an incredible asset.”

Leao was in good form against Liverpool on Saturday, scoring the opening goal of the game and being a constant threat throughout the hour he played. Ricci also starred in the 4-2 victory, putting in a strong personal performance. Gazzetta asked the midfielder whether he expected the Rossoneri to play as they did against the Reds, “We actually played well against Arsenal too but struggled more in possession because we were not able to build vertically. In Hong Kong, though, we made progress in that area and created a lot of chances, especially on the counter. We were clinical, just like the coach wants us to be.”

‘Allegri and I have good understanding’ – Ricci

Samuele Ricci was also questioned about how he is getting on with his new head coach, with Allegri also joining the club this summer: “We have got a good understanding, we’re both from Tuscany so we get each-other quite well! For us midfielders, he asks for solidity. Technically, we need to prevent as many inside passes as possible and play the ball quickly and forward because we know the quality and speed of our wingers. If we can get them into dangerous situations, even using long switches, everything becomes easier.”

In his playing days, Allegri played in a similar role to Ricci and when asked if this helped, the midfielder responded “He played that role too and knows all the tricks. He corrects and helps me.”