It has been a difficult start to the season for everyone involved. However, there is a theme of AC Milan’s stars struggling. Unfortunately for Rafael Leao, the struggles have extended to international duty.
From the last 12 months, you can ask several questions of Leao, from a Portugal and Milan perspective. A player who is meant to be your star – of course, looking past Cristiano Ronaldo in a Portuguese context – has struggled to live up to the expectations.
We are no longer looking at a young boy, who has been thrown into the limelight in either context. This is a 25-year-old Leao. A player who holds a €150+ million release clause. A player who, realistically, should be the man for both club and country.
Unfortunately, though, that has not been the case recently.
A difficult moment
Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes the winger was anonymous in the first half. As a result, he was hooked. The Portuguese newspapers have then been unkind in their judgement – of course, this would be lesser if everyone did not know how good he can be.
Being Milan’s highest-paid player, there is an expectation for performances, and he was called upon to ‘take the team on his back’ this season, but there has been no showing of such so far. Of course, he scored against Lazio, but this was overshadowed by the incident with Theo Hernandez.
Moving forward
On Sunday, Leao will probably start from the first minute against Scotland, and then thoughts must immediately return to Milan. A difficult month awaits him and his team, and an improvement is a necessity, from him and his team.
At least two huge tests are on the horizon, games where seasons can begin. If Leao is to find his feet, there is no greater opportunity, but failing to do so would have substantial consequences. However, the Rossoneri have faith in the star, and he has faith in himself.
As Gazzetta states,’if at Milan, things are not always going very well, at home it is even worse’. Time is on his side to change that, and to refind himself would be perfect for all parties.
Hasn’t he scored and provided an assist so far this season for Milan???
Hasn’t been literally a traffic cone outside of those 20 seconds?
Clearly not enough when you concede 2 goals per match. Simple math.
His problem seems to be more mental than ability. The hot and cold performances are at question, he tends to completely disappear at times and that is at the heart of the issue. Unfortunately we all know that he is capable of more and for him to move from good to great consistency needs to become part of his game.
He think more of going to the studio and drop his next album than performing on the field and scoring goals for Milan.
Time up, Milan-Rafa…
Should have just sold him. We need a serious footballer, not one who considers it a part time hobby.
Club and country should treat him as a normal player like Chuc and Ramon. No high expectations so to reduce the pressure on his little head and minimise our post match disappointments. Randomly starting him on the bench and sometimes subbing him off at 60 mins in the CL. He delivers, good. He struggles, no big deal.
That doesn’t happen for a guy who demanded to be the highest paid player in the club…