AC Milan have started the season abysmally, and several questions are being asked of their stars. Rafael Leao, naturally, is a target of criticism as the highest-paid player at the club, and currently, he is not deserving of such a contract.
When you think of Leao, you think of one of the best wingers in world football. A tricky player who scores goals for fun and beats players at ease with a smile throughout. Whilst the smile remains, Leao is a shell of that player currently.
Yes, he has scored this season, but even this was overshadowed by a moment of controversy.
Of course, this is not the start to the season that anyone had imagined, especially after Paulo Fonseca had personally been to speak to Leao about his centrality to the new project. However, we must not dwell on the past.
Everyone knows the player that Leao is, and more importantly, can be. He is clearly a confidence player, when things are good, the smile is brighter, and the contributions come regularly. When things are difficult, he shells a little. Milan must work out a way to change things, and Leao must grow further.
As Gazzetta dello Sport (via Milan News) writes, the Portuguese star cannot hide in the approaching fixtures, and if he is as good as we know he can be, three games are awaiting to remind himself and everyone else.
Venezia, Liverpool, Inter. Three games of varying difficulty, three games of indescribable importance. Leao must show himself as the star we know he can be, as Gazzetta claims, there is no room for any mistakes.