Saelemaekers claims Modric has ‘something different’ and praises ‘very important’ Leao

Alexis Saelemaekers believes that Luka Modric has ‘something different’, while he believes Rafael Leao can work as a striker if needed.

Modric is perhaps the most high-profile signing that Milan have made this summer as he left Real Madrid to join his boyhood team. Given that he is the most decorated player in Los Blancos’ history, there is understandably a lot of excitement about his arrival.

What the new coach Massimiliano Allegri will hope is that Modric can feed Leao plenty. The Portuguese winger is hoping to finally take a leap forward in terms of his consistency, and has been made a focal point of the ‘new Milan’ being designed.

‘Really happy to have him’

Saelemaekers spoke to The Italian Football Podcast after the full-time whistle outside Stamford Bridge, and he was asked about Luka Modric and Rafael Leao.

Thoughts on Modric debut and how amazing it is to have him at Milan?

“From the first training session, he is a player that you really feel he has something different and we are really happy to have him with us. We hope he is going to do good things with us and we will help him as much as we can to make him shine on the field.”

Rafa Leao played a good game as a No.9, better than he has in this role in the past. Could this be a role he plays more in this season?

“The coach has to decide what is his best position but I think that he played amazing in this position in pre-season, in every game he played.

“He is a very important player for us and, just like with Luka Modric, we will work hard for him to make him shine on the field. I hope he will have an incredible season.”