'Rafael Leao is magic!' - Zlatan Ibrahimovic defends under-fire AC Milan star and says Portugal winger single-handedly won Serie A title for Rossoneri

Ibrahimovic has launched a staunch defence of under-fire Milan forward, labelling the Portuguese star as "magic" and crediting him with single-handedly winning the 2021-22 Serie A title - a campaign the Swedish icon was part of. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Ibrahimovic, in his capacity as a club consultant, dismissed the recent wave of criticism aimed at the winger.

Leao has been the subject of fierce debate in the Italian media over his recent performances, with critics questioning his work rate and overall consistency. The former Sporting CP player missed the first few weeks of the Serie A campaign with an injury but made headlines by missing two key chances in the recent goalless draw against Juventus. That display reportedly resulted in a dressing down from coach Massimiliano Allegri in the team changing room after the game, and Ibrahimovic has given an insight into the confrontation.

"I was in the locker room. Everyone was angry, everyone, Allegri, because we could have won," he said. "And even Leao, who had missed two goals. Let's remember that during pre-season he was the best, then he was out for two months, now he has to get back in shape. Of course, we expect magic, because Leao is magic! Of course, we'll always talk about him, because he's one of the best players in the world, and I'm not saying this for marketing purposes, but because I played football. I saw him as a kid, now he has two children: it's a journey. They say he's already 26, but I matured at 28. And anyway, when we won the Scudetto, I can say he won it all by himself."

Ibrahimovic's public backing will provide a significant boost for Leao as he heads into the next block of fixtures after the international break. However, the focus will now shift to the player to respond on the pitch and deliver the consistent, match-winning performances that manager Allegri requires. With AC Milan aiming to compete on all fronts, Leao's ability to rediscover the "magic" Ibrahimovic praised will be critical to their success this season.