Rafael Leao was one of the key players for AC Milan in their 0-0 draw against Borussia Dortmund, but still received criticism afterwards. Mario Balotelli has now defended him, hitting back at Antonio Cassano.
The winger created a couple of very good chances for the Rossoneri but his teammates failed to hit the back of the net. As one would expect these days, Leao ended up in the spotlight again after the game and not just in a positive way.
Antonio Cassano really went after Leao, stating that he needs to create at least ten chances to make up for his defensive work. Speaking to Vox to Box, as cited by MilanLive, Mario Balotelli chimed in and defended the Portuguese winger.
“Cassano’s Leao-Alvarez comparison? Playing for Man City and Milan today is completely different. Playing in Italy is one thing, in England it’s another. Leao is fantastic, he has immense talent. He certainly finds himself in a difficult situation, because Milan is on his shoulders.
“There is a risk that he will be ruined because he has demonstrated his value, but he’s yet to prove it consistently. Now it’s too easy to attack Leao because he has all the responsibility on his shoulders. I love Antonio, he was a footballer too, but he wouldn’t have accepted a comment like that either,” he stated.
Milan will play Genoa tomorrow and Leao is expected to be in the starting XI. It remains to be seen if he can silence the critics, as he has done so many times before.
Hahah it’s funny hearing this from Balo, would have become a great striker if not for his attitude though.
Cassano is very foolish for one reason I know he played Ac Milan but he is not an Milan fan so for me I don’t expect good comments about Milan
Of course someone who doesn’t play defense or understand how to press thinks Leao is doing great.
And how would you know? What did you do in football, ever? How would you understand?
Maybe you can do better defensively. As for Leao he is doing perfectly well in his position as a winger. Because he’s not doing well in what is not his position now means he’s not a good player or what exactly? Then let the defenders come out and do the work of wingers.
Alexis Saelemaekers defensively was way better than Leao, but what did Saelemaekers contribute upfront? Absolutely nothing.
Saelemaekers had 32 Serie A appearances in 38 games the season we won the Scudetto so he must have done something….
It never ceases to amaze how so many fans openly mock players who helped deliver a title whilst being bowled over by players who have never won anything with the club purely on the basis of the trophies they imagine we’ll now win.
Yes he contributed.
Get my point, defensively Saelemaekers was contributing more than Leao, this is not a mock or whatever you call it, but in the final third, I mean in terms of scoring goals, assisting teammates and creating chances, Leao contributed way more than Saelemaekers.
So Cassano coming up with stupid talk as a fool he is to criticise Leao for not contributing defensively means he’s thinking like a mad man that is eating from the gutter because Leao does his duty well in the attacking phase, he may not be perfect like Ronaldo, Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic but all I know is Leao is doing his duty well as a winger period.
Cassano or cassava whichever they call him is only a clown and nothing more.
Cassano is a nobody today, so he has to be a clown to draw some attention towards him. That is the only thing left from his being famous thing.
It takes one to know one.
2 lazy players talking about another lazy player.
They seeing themselves in Leao that’s why they talking about him
Cassano is an idiot. Period.
Balotelli has said it all…Cassano or Cassano’s will never accept such statement or Criticism when playing. Foolish he-goat
The kick to the head that Ibra planted on Cassano really did a number to his pea brain, didn’t it?
He’s never recovered from it after all these years.
Wow ! Balotelli , very matured
It’s just the media creating controversy.
If you talk to enough former managers and players you’re bound to stir things up!
These are all just opinions. Endless opinions. What is not an opinion is that Leao was crucial to our Scudetto and run in last season’s champions league. And for that fans should be grateful.
Fans should also be grateful to Cassano for helping us win the Scudetto and to Balotelli for his phenomenal performance in 12/13 season. Balotelli generally did very little wrong at Milan but his transferS (we bought, sold, and loaned him back as you do with an elite athlete) really disrupted his career at a crucial time.
His agent, may he rest in peace, didn’t do him any favours as a footballer. Agents rarely do.
Balotelli and Niang are playing together again at Adana Demirspor!
They should sign El Shaaraway and reunite the three Mohawks!
To think those three could’ve been our attack for 10 years but we just had to keep chopping and changing. And yes it’s pure speculation on my part, but when a person is left alone to develop in serenity it usually achieves better results. Leao should take heed – he can stay at Milan for the rest of his career and become a legend, or go the same way as Balotelli and become a journeyman.
There’s no guarantee he’ll find the same conditions at another club.
Wise words from Balo – perfectly said:
“Now it’s too easy to attack Leao because he has all the responsibility on his shoulders. I love Antonio, he was a footballer too, but he wouldn’t have accepted a comment like that either,”