Costacurta: Leao is a ‘showman’, I ‘never liked’ Mourinho’s teams

Milan and Italy legend Alessandro Costacurta believes that Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola are the best coaches in football’s history but the ex-.defender is ‘not an admirer’ of Rafael Leao: ‘He’s a showman.’

Former Italian defender Costacurta shared his thoughts on Italian football, Serie A in his latest interview with Corriere dello Sport, including his verdict on the best coach of all time.

“Carlo [Ancelotti] and then Pep are the best,” Costacurta said.

“Johan Cruyff is right behind as he changed football. Arrigo Sacchi caused a real earthquake; he inspired the football Renaissance, not just in Italy. Arrigo is a key figure, like Leonardo Da Vinci.”

The former Milan defender still remained quite critical of José Mourinho, currently in charge of Portuguese side Benfica.

“Mou has never really captured me; I’ve never liked watching his teams,” said the ex-defender.

“We’re talking about a Treble winner, a top coach, but he has never improved the teams he’s coached.”

Costacurta is also not a fan of Milan star Rafael Leao.

“I’m not an admirer of Leao, I’ve never been, even when he was 19, and somebody considered him a prodigy, a future Ballon d’Or winner,” he said.

“I played with many Ballon d’Or winners; they all put their talent at the team’s disposal. Leao is enigmatic. I’ve never understood whether what he does is just for its own sake. He’s a showman.

“That’s the point, in football, beauty must be efficient too, that’s what makes it interesting. Leao is no longer a kid. He’ll be 27 in June, not 20.”

Costacurta spent his entire playing career at Milan, except for the 1986-87 campaign, during which he played on loan at Monza.

A seven-time Serie A winner and five-time Champions League winner, Costacurta collected 59 international appearances and was part of the Italy squad that reached the 1994 World Cup Final, lost against Brazil on penalties.