Diogo Dalot Praises Gonçalo Ramos and Rafael Leao at Milan
Diogo Dalot knows what it means to arrive at San Siro with expectations on your back. He did it himself as a youngster on loan from Manchester United. So when he talks about Gonçalo Ramos and Rafael Leao at Milan, there’s weight behind every word.
The Portugal international full-back, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport via MilanNews.it, reserved particular praise for Ramos, who has joined Milan to lead the line.
“I think Gonçalo is a fantastic player to have in the team. The way he works, the way he trains, the way he behaves, the way he's always ready to help the team,” Dalot said, underlining not just the striker’s goals but his mentality. “I believe he's been a fantastic signing for the club and I'm really happy he's had this opportunity, because it's a fantastic club. I think he'll really enjoy his time in Milan and I hope he can help the club achieve success and fight for every trophy this season.”
Dalot’s words carry the perspective of someone who has felt the San Siro stage and then gone on to become a mainstay at Old Trafford. The Manchester United defender, pictured celebrating an FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in March, sees in Ramos the profile of a centre-forward built for Milan’s ambitions: relentless in training, team-first in attitude, and ready for the scrutiny that comes with the shirt.
If Ramos drew professional admiration, Leao drew something deeper.
Dalot shifted into more personal territory when the subject turned to Rafael Leao, whose future has been a recurring storyline of the summer amid reported interest from Galatasaray.
“I've known Leao since I was 15 and I've talked about him many times,” Dalot said. “He's a great person, a great human being with a big heart, as well as being a fantastic footballer. That's what makes him special, and I think Milan's fans recognise that too.”
For Dalot, Leao’s bond with the club and its supporters is as important as his explosive runs down the left.
“For all the years he's been there playing for the club, I think it's important for him to also feel that the fans like him and that the whole environment around him cares for him. And I think in recent years it's been a fantastic partnership,” he added.
The message was clear: the relationship between Leao and Milan has grown into something significant, something worth protecting.
“So I really hope he can continue to be successful there, win more trophies, and be one of the best players the club has ever had,” Dalot concluded.
From someone who has shared dressing rooms with both and understands the weight of the Milan shirt, it sounded less like polite praise and more like a challenge laid down for two compatriots at the heart of the club’s next push for silverware.
