AC Milan striker Rafael Leao is proud of his Sporting CP roots.

Leao is expected to be fit for their Champions League second-leg clash with Inter Milan tonight.

He told Gaffer magazine: "Sporting is one of the best academies in the world, if not the best, given that it has coached two Ballon d'Ors. It's an honour which fills me with great pride to have made a career there, they opened the doors to the world of football for me and I am very grateful to them.

"It is certainly a club that I will remember and will carry with me forever."

Of his childhood heroes, Leao also said: "100% Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo. They are players that I followed and tried to copy when I was little. I learned to do the things I do today, dribbling. Watching their videos on Youtube.

"They are both my great idols and I'd like to have a career similar to theirs."