Paulo Fonseca wants Rafael Leao to be the leader of his new AC Milan, but that requires him to become more clinical and to play closer to the goal.
As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, the last image posted on Leao’s social media is a shot of Adriano and Ronaldo, then team-mates in the Brazilian national team, two scorers that the new Rafa looks up to more than ever.
The two who knew how to combine class and ruthlessness, a mix that still escapes Leao too often. He knows how to be elegant and fly towards the goal, but he sometimes lacks that clinical edge needed to always get his name on the scoreboard.
Against Torino, on the first night of the season, he showed himself to be the most dynamic forward of the four named, and yet he made a couple of big chances to make Fonseca’s debut a more straightforward one.
A special talent
Leao has shown that he can be talented and effective, he just needs to learn to be involved in the game for the whole time he is on the field and not just in spells.
The numbers from his Rossoneri career speak for themselves: six goals in the first two seasons in Serie A, 11 in the year of the Scudetto – when he was elected Serie A MVP – then 15 in the following campaign and nine in the one just concluded, the most controversial of his experience in Milan so far.
In the year in which everyone expected the jump to potentially 20 goals or more, Leao was inconsistent and distracted, sometimes even booed off the field. However, there must be something special in Rafa if, after Stefano Pioli, Fonseca will also rely on him.
The coach is certainly not the only one: Leao is well liked by his team-mates and their respect extends beyond Milanello. The latest sign of how highly valued he is comes from Barcelona’s interest, with the rumours immediately silenced by AC Milan CEO Furlani.
The quest to become a ‘bomber’
Fonseca wants the No.10 to be more attacking, to get into the area more, and to be more involved in the game. He could therefore become even freer from defensive retreats, which are. not exactly Rafa’s passion.
Strahinja Pavlovic’s insertion at the back (ready to make his debut as a starter against Parma) and Youssouf Fofana’s coverage in the middle (he will probably start from the bench) should be sufficient to guarantee greater defensive stability.
Fonseca wants Leao to become a more prolific scorer, with double digits in league goals being the minimum ask. The feeling between the two is already good based on what they say at Milanello, and it goes beyond the understanding between compatriots.
Leao is happy to be at the centre of the team. He appreciates the new style of play, possession and dominance, and wants to engage in the tasks designed for him. Not only that, the winger enjoys being a leader in the dressing room too.
He likes to welcome the younger players into the group, but he also knows how to be available to the more experienced players. In short, Leao is at the heart of Milan, and it is a love he reciprocates.
Train excessively shooting after every training, he doesn’t necessarily need anyone else for this. According to Ibra himself, he had similar issues with goal scoring until Capello made him do it.
Also, Rafa has a physique that should allow him to play very well with his head, but it seems he is so afraid to do it. At most, if the ball is going to hit him in the head, he will try to assist someone else. He had a total of 3 goals with a header in his whole career… For an ATT player who is 1.88M and very technical it seems absurd. No need to be great at it, but it’s something he should have in his arsenal.
Rafa needs to cut in space more and we need to pass him ball through the defence , since now he just waits for a pass by the “throw in line” and goes for a solo action,or waits eventualy counterattack, in rear ocations he got ball by cutting in near to goal ,he needS to improve his ST instincts and become more ST less LW
Barcelona 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Let’s be honest Barcelona are not serious regards Leo and dispite having debts of around 2 billion if they were serious they would have him.
Facts are they have a far better squad and coaches than we do dispite the debt they are also a lot closer with that NEW STADIUM you know like we were getting.
Interesting that the TV rights in Italy are being spoken about at last and the lack of interest in the league and reason that is the league is POOR with no world class players or coaches and teams such as ourselves don’t help the situation.
It’s frustrating because I genuinely love Italian football and it has so much more to offer sadly the league and the owners of many of the once great football clubs don’t agree.
Rafa couldn’t lead a kindergarten football team let alone professionals with years and years of experience. And that’s alright. Not everyone can be a leader of men.
Example, Ronaldinho was a God on the pitch but he was no leader of man.
Leo will end up like Niang if he continues this way, i ones argue about him being better than Saka and place him with Vinicius but now i know better