Massimiliano Allegri is the latest head coach to take on the challenge of Rafael Leao. The AC Milan star is not a challenge, but taking him to the next level seems to be.
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Stefano Pioli, Paulo Fonseca, Sergio Conceicao and now, Allegri. Four coaches, each with the task of bettering Milan, each with the sub-task of solving Leao and sending him to stardom.
Each has gotten a different tune from the Portuguese, some good, others bad. However, Leao’s numbers have stayed relatively consistent.
Since 2021, the winger has gotten at least 16 contributions a season in Serie A, failing to score less than eight in that same period. For Allegri, the goal is to get the star to the illustrious 20 mark, which has haunted him for years.
First steps
Yesterday, we saw some of the first steps being laid, with the pair close in training. Leao, after all, is set to be central to Allegri’s Milan, and the signs are already positive, as can be seen below from Milanello.
🗣 @Antonello_Gioia: "Every time he could, Allegri approached to talk with Leao… Close-up conversations, explanations of details about posture, about looking at the goal, about how to do the drills. Allegri is on a mission with Rafa, evidently."pic.twitter.com/l0Gg9AREH6
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) July 7, 2025