It wasn’t long ago that the ink dried after Rafael Leao signed his AC Milan renewal, but attention is already on the upcoming season and the leadership role he will have.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write how it has been a chaotic summer already for Milan given that Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired, Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara left, Sandro Tonali was sold while Marco Sportiello, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Luka Romero signed with Christian Pulisic to follow.
The attacking department will undergo changes too after Brahim Diaz’s departure but what counts above all is that Leao has remained, and he is the ‘best signing’ for the new Milan.
Leao renewed his contract until 2028 not long ago, with a sizeable salary increase to more than €5m net per season. After contributing to the Scudetto win and reaching the semi-final of the Champions League, Leao wants to keep improving as he has done since he first showed up at Milanello in 2019.
His constant growth is a guarantee, because the numbers of his appearances and goals have always increased in the league. He had 25 appearances and 3 goals in the first year, 30-6 in the second, 34-11 in the third and 35-15 in the last.
Last season he was the team’s top scorer and now the challenge that he still has to overcome on a personal level is that of consistency, which come with maturity.
This is why his decision to change his shirt number cannot go unnoticed, given that in the first game of the season against Bologna he will have No.10 on his shoulders instead of his old 17.
It is true that 10 is also the day he was born, in June 24 years ago, but 10 has always been a special number in the history of Milan with players like Gianni Rivera, Ruud Gullit, Dejan Savicevic and Rui Costa all wearing it.
In a team that everyone considers to be more physical, Leao’s accelerations, agility and unpredictability could however be even more decisive than before, because when the Portuguese turns on the turbo nobody can catch him.
Leao + Giroud + Pulisic will be very dangerous. Leao’s biggest problem the past two years has been not having anyone at RW to soak up attention from defenders. Pulisic will change that.
Except Pulisic isn’t a natural RW and Giroud is getting old. So we still need a CF and RW.
If Pioli is going to use Pulisic as RW we will se if he is natural or not. Expectations are that he must get more contribution than Diaz last season. If not – flop transfer.
Biggest problem is Tonali replacements. Can players who are bought or will be bought have same contribution as Tonali….?
Let’s see… from our experience, it takes a few seasons for players to adapt to the country, league, and Pioli’s tactics. It took Leao 3 seasons to find his form. Tonali, Bennacer, Kalulu, Brahim, Kessie took 2 years. That’s the downfall to aiming for youth, they aren’t ready for that kind of move. RLC should adapt easier, just like Tomori did.
You mean always losing your mark in transition. Picking up unnecessary yellow cards. Or delivering terrible corners and set pieces? I think we can find someone to do that just as well. Stop overrating Tonali. He was the main reason our midfield got bossed last season.
Tonali got bossed by Ruben last season in the Champions League, you are indeed overrating the guy, we was the worst of our midfield trio during our championship winning season.
Pulisic it seems will be playing CAM replacing Brahim.
I am hoping we get Samuel Chukwueze on the RW. He is a stud. If we had him on RW with Leao on LW and CP in the middle at CAM behind Giroud (and then acquire either Balogun or Scamacca or Morata or Taremi), then we will score a lot of goals.