AC Milan defender Leo Duarte admits he's become close to director Paolo Maldini.

The summer signing from Flamengo has missed much of the season due to injury.

“Maldini always asks me how I am, if I am feeling well. I want to prove my worth and I want to make a difference for Milan," he stated.

Duarte also spoke of Zlatan Ibrahomovic's impact since his January arrival.

“Ibra is a great player, he helps us to stay focused and improve. He really makes a difference for our team. We hope he can recover soon because he is very important for us," he added.