Thierry Henry has been left stunned by Arsenal transfer target Rafael Leao after he helped AC Milan progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
For the second time in as many weeks, Rafael Leao was a thorn in Napoli’s side because it was his ‘crazy’ run that led to Olivier Giroud scoring the only goal of the game in Naples to help AC Milan secure a 2-0 aggregate win against their Italian neighbours.
One of Leao’s biggest strengths is his ability to carry the ball forward and at serious pace, well, he danced through several Napoli players last night, before cutting the ball back inside the penalty area for ex-Arsenal man, Giroud, to slot into an empty net.
It was a moment of pure magic from the Portugal international and a big reason why a number of Premier League teams are keen on the all-action forward.
Mikel Arteta’s table-topping Arsenal are one of the teams interested in the £32 million star, who has been likened to Wilfried Zaha.
Well, with due respect to the Crystal Palace winger, but Leao is doing it on a much bigger stage and he has left Thierry Henry impressed, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (18/04/23 at 8:55 pm).
“We already know what the guy can do,” said Henry. “You showed it last week and we are showing it now.
“On the counter, Leao, please, stop it! He bails Giroud out of jail (after his earlier penalty miss). He had a couple of chances, of course, he missed the penalty, but he couldn’t miss that one.
“But, Leao. Wow! He said to everybody ‘give me the ball and I will go alone to lay the ball off’. Well done, Leao. The run was crazy.”
LEAO’S TRANSFER FEE RISING
After helping AC Milan win the Serie A title last season, if Leao guides the seven-time European Cup winners to Champions League glory for the first time since 2007, then his transfer fee will only sky-rocket.
At the age of 23, Leao is at the perfect age for a team in the money-crazy Premier League to purchase for top dollar, develop and turn into a bigger superstar than he is already becoming.
There has been a level of inconsistent performances from Leao in Serie A this season, but he is leaving his best performances for Europe’s biggest stage, as a potential Milan derby awaits supporters in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The post 'Crazy': Thierry Henry blown away by what Arsenal transfer target did in Champions League appeared first on HITC.
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