leao fonseca

CM: Leao wants ‘more freedom’ from Fonseca but Milan cannot afford the luxury

Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images

Rafael Leao and Paulo Fonseca are still in the early stages of figuring out their relationship together at AC Milan, but it would be fair to say that it hasn’t got off to a perfect start.

Calciomercato.com write how Leao and Fonseca’s bond ‘has not taken off’ yet, and the most recent story to make the headlines is the fact that the winger decided to imply that he feels more trust from Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez, as well as from the squad there.

Udinese, Club Brugge, Bologna and Napoli: the next four games will decide a lot for Fonseca, who is still not 100% stable in his role, and Leao can offer his compatriot a hand. Incidents such as the cooling break saga against Lazio and the various episodes against Fiorentina have not helped this.

Following the same path taken by Stefano Pioli during his management at Milan, Leao ‘demands a freedom of expression’, in essence wanting to be less required for defensive schemes and tasks, which Fonseca cannot allow in the high-risk 4-4-2 that he is insisting on.

Here we come to the crucial point, to the crux of the matter: can Milan, given how the team was built and the players that the usual XI is made up of, allow itself to exempt even just one of its outfield players from the defensive tasks required to maintain a team balance?

As a follow-up, is Leao the man that deserves to effectively be given a free pass? The long-awaited consistency has not yet arrived from him despite being at Milan for five years, and he gives the feeling of always being capable of more.

Tags AC Milan Rafael Leao

16 Comments

  1. Leao is an idi0t. Pulisic somehow manages to work hard on both side of the pitch and doesn’t hinder his contributions..
    Leao gets asked to defend more and is like ‘oh, I need more freedom ‘. Nah you need to
    a) learn how to shoot,
    b) get some stamina. You gotta do 12km a game and his average was usually under 8.5km. That’s rubbish

    1. While there’s some truth to what you’re saying there are two things…1. even Puli said he benefits from the attention placed on Leao, so he has more room to work with, and 2. We could like both players simultaneously. They’re both very very good players for us. One has a more powerful explosive game but less defebding while the other has a more complete game. I like them both. What I think is that the midfield & defence needs to get their stuff in order so they can supply these guys with the ball. Once we figure that out, it’s problems for even the best of teams.

      1. Well sure puli takes advantage of the space that is created, not necessarily by rafa tho. Goes between the lines and does what he does. But I’m not talking about that. All I’m saying is one of them covers around 10km and the other 8.5km.
        I still think if we played with a 3 backline it would solve a bunch of our defensive woes. Atm fofana is asked to stay back and “balance” things. With a 3 backline there would be no need for that and he’d be free to do what a mezzala does best. Why have a midfielder defend when you can have a defender defend… idk

        1. Flying Turtle… when you press and are able to stop the first pass your midfielders and outside backs can reset and there’s less space. If you get that first pass to a free midfielder the game opens up. So yes, in modern day football you either press and stop that first pass or play counterattacking football. Less Italian teams are playing counterattacking football. Regarding Leao, it’s not like he’s not getting good chances, he’s just not putting them away.

        2. “All I’m saying is one of them covers around 10km and the other 8.5km.” I think that’s the part I agree with the most. I watched his games for Portugal over the summer and dude was actually tracking back like his life depended on it. It bothers me why he doesn’t do that more consistently for us. He was also potent going forward too so it’s not like he can’t do both but on a consistent basis I’m not sure of. Also I’m not sure of the implications long term of he exerted that sort of effort every game. I do believe he “stores” up energy for those runs he makes, which are quite explosive. But alas 🤷‍♂️. I like his game but I also think he could do more too.

    2. Leao isn’t that player that will work hard in both phases. You either build around what he’s shown to be capable of or you cut him loose and replace him with a system player. Even if its Puli on that side and whoever on the Rt.

  2. More freedom!!!! Lmfao you are too lazy as it is. Plastic literally plays on both sides every game. Meanwhile leao hugs the sideline and is next to worthless without the ball lol but he wants more freedom lol

  3. Players like Leao should get more freedom to play his game… I think he should help out in defence at times, but not everytime… He needs the maximum stamina to attack and create chances…

  4. It’s always a shame to see someone so naturally gifted completely waste their talent. Unfortunately with this mentality, Leao has already peaked and will never be a great player. Even Mbappe puts in more effort pressing from the front. You need to be literally Messi to get the team to bust their ass as just 10 men and let the other 1 man just be free to do their thing and have it all work out positively.

    This might come as a surprise to Leao… but he isn’t Messi.

  5. Wanting and deserving is 2 very different things… but personally id give him a match or two, just to show him, it makes no difference

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