Rafael Leao’s metamorphosis has taken him from being an electric winger to a player who barely dribbles, a report has highlighted.
Corriere dello Sport (via MilanPress) recall this morning that once upon a time Leão was devastating on the wing, unstoppable in one-on-one situations and decisive on crucial nights.
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Today, he seems a distant relative of the player who led the Rossoneri to the 2021-22 Scudetto and also shone in the Champions League against opponents like PSG and Napoli.
Leao no longer dribbles
The paper highlight how one key statistic captures the moment: dribbling. This season, Leao has attempted 56 dribbles, completing only 24, for a completion rate of 42.86%. It is his lowest percentage since he joined the club seven years ago.
The comparison with the past is merciless: in the Scudetto-winning season, he attempted 184 dribbles, with 98 of them successful (53.26%). The year before, he attempted 70, with 40 successful (57.14%), while in his debut Serie A season, the percentage was a staggering 62%.
The decline is evident: fewer attempts, fewer successes, less effectiveness. A clear sign of a loss of incisiveness in the fundamental that had made him unique. Among the mitigating factors is certainly the tactical aspect: under Massimiliano Allegri, Leao was often deployed more centrally.
Coming in from the left was a change that led him to play with his back to goal rather than with open space ahead of him, often surrounded by compact defences, limiting his best attributes. Yet, it’s not just a matter of position.
Leao also appears less vibrant physically and mentally. The pubalgia that has plagued him for weeks is impacting his performance, but it’s not enough to fully explain the decline. He lacks momentum, speed and even the mental agility that made him unpredictable.
The boos from some of the fans also weigh heavily: a significant aspect for a sensitive player, very attached to the club. Leao’s moment inevitably sparks reflection at Milan. The Portuguese remains important, but will the system come first?
The management will have to decide this summer whether to continue to focus on him as a cornerstone or evaluate different scenarios such as a sale. Meanwhile, the present suggests he’ll still be a starter against Atalanta. Allegri continues to have faith in him, but answers are needed.
Leao’s dribbling, kick the ball forward and try to outrun the slow serie defender, have dropped because opponents have figured him out. You can’t be a 1 trick pony and think that you can continue to rely and fool defenders with that 1 trick.
All these excuses about the position he is playing or an injury are just that, excuses, because his “dribbling” attempts and completions have gone down every season since 2021. Wasn’t injured or played out of position the other seasons.
A player who is only effective on a counter attack when there is space for him to run. Totally ineffective in tight spaces. If you cant operate in tight spaces you arent that good.
He is still a Milan player for a reason.
Unfortunately your assertion lacks objectivity, and makes no sense, when you ignore injuries, tactics and the number of minutes played with themediocre coaches from fonseca to Concecao just to mention few. In the current season which striker will thrive under Allegri football? who can dribble when you are isolated, out of space and crowded by opposing defender?
Z watches football and Milan to write stupid comments here. Just watch how he randomly comes after other games and writes stuff like this on random articles. Some people opinions are really of 0 value. He is a perfect example. Lowest form of existence.
I can’t agree less with you on Z, very biased and insensitive comments, his understanding of the game is most times questionable.