GdS: Role of Zlatan Ibrahimovic key as Milan put full trust in €35m signing

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan have a great deal of faith in forward Rafael Leao despite his recent struggles, according to a report.

Wednesday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport – as cited by MilanNews.it – notes that Leao was Milan’s most expensive summer market signing, having paid €35million to sign him from from Lille.

He struggled for game time initially under both Marco Giampaolo and current head coach Stefano Pioli, but found himself as a regular fixture in the starting XI when the latter switched to a 4-4-2 upon Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s arrival.

Despite this, he lost his place in the line-up for Sunday’s derby defeat to Inter during which Pioli used a 4-2-3-1 and preferred Ante Rebic on the right, with the Croatia international having netted four of Milan’s last seven goals.

The paper claims though that both the club and Ibrahimovic believe a lot in Leao’s potential. For the Rossoneri, the Portuguese starlet is one of the few players on the team with a guaranteed future, while the Swede has taken him under his protective wing and supports both in the game and in training.

Tags AC Milan Rafael Leao
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