The Portugal attacker left Lille for Milan in 2019.
Leao recalled on the Say Less podcast: "I was about to go to Inter, crazy. The sporting director (of Lille) told me: 'Rafa, we're about to sell you to Inter,' I said: 'No, I've done very well this season (referring to the season with Lille), I want to stay another season to improve even more and increase my confidence for the next challenge.'
"But he said no, no, I have to sell you, it's a great opportunity for you, for us, it's a lot of money. But I said no to Inter.
"A week, two, three weeks went by and the sporting director came back to me and said: 'Milan are interested in you.' I said: 'Yes, Milan are, if they come with an offer, I'll accept.'
"After two days he came back and said: 'They've brought the offer, someone wants to talk to you,' he put me through to Paolo Maldini, not a normal call but a video call. (Former director Paolo) Maldini said: 'You have to come, we're ready to take you.' I accepted, I replied, I couldn't say no."
Why did AC Milan convince you?
"Since I was a child, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka, Seedorf, those players you saw or heard about, were history. And you know, seven Champions Leagues, only Real Madrid has more. Between AC Milan and Inter, AC Milan a hundred times over."