«With music I overcome shyness»- Corriere.it

THEin every verse there is my life. Words (and music) by Rafael Leao, or rather of WAY45, which then the stage name of the Portuguese striker of Milan when he stands in front of the microphone. Goals and rap, football and songs: the life of the formidable Rossoneri number 10 is thus divided between two great passions, football and singing. On his dribbling at San Siro, there is little to add: pure talent, Rafa is the Devil’s gold, with a valuation of over 100 million euros which makes him one of the most coveted players in the world. But the boy doesn’t just feel like a footballer. His love for music led him to record two albums at the age of 24. In 2021 the first solo, Beginning, The beginning: 7 tracks that are divided between English and Portuguese, between rap, trap and drill, which tell his story, from sacrifices to success. Now the second, released these daysby title My life in each versethat is My life in every versewhich contains 17 tracks.

I really like rapping, I think that when I finish my career as a footballer I could do that in life – he says -. For now it’s just a pastime, I’m talking above all about my life and the sacrifices made to get here. With music overcome shyness. Those who know him assure that it is easier for him to speak with songs than in interviews: I never show my emotions and feelings, but through music I can do it. The passion for notes comes from father Antonio (he made music when he was young) and initially it was a domestic hobby: I created a mini studio at home, I started learning and rehearsing, those close to me told me it was a passion to pursue. A story that is somewhat reminiscent of the existential parable of Blanco, the winner of Sanremo 2022: he played in the Feralpisal youth team today in Serie B, then during the lockdown he started singing in his bedroom and in the end he chose to leave football.

In every Leao song there are references to origins, childhood and adolescence among the popular high-rises of Bairro da Jamaica, in the southern suburbs of Lisbon, across the Tagus River. The number 45 of his stage name is the postcode. On the journey you’re on, don’t forget where you came from, the striker writes in his songs, who has never hidden that he grew up in a risky context and was saved by football. His single Escolhasin Portuguese Choices, recounts precisely the path up to great football: Everywhere I go my eyes are always open / I don’t go to church / I confess in the mic / Best friend in prison, turned inside. The law of the ghetto, the sacrifices to get out of it. As soon as he can, he returns to his friends in the neighborhood, who help in a concrete way.

His life for now in Milan. Here she found the smile, his trademark on and off the pitch. It goes without saying that Rafa plays like he sings and sings like he plays. Milan is now his home and also for this reason he has chosen to extend his contract with Milan until 2027 at 5 million a year plus bonuses. A metropolis that he loves, tells who is next to him, also because it is the ideal place to cultivate both of his dreams. very good as a musician, his pieces sound good even if I don’t understand the lyrics because they are in Portuguese says Lazza, the Milanese rapper (and Milan fan) from Ash. actually the novelty of the forthcoming album is that Leao sings a track in Italian. Title: Wedding ring. Its double.