Rafael Leao always seems to be at the centre of attention when it comes to AC Milan, as the best and highest-paid player on the team.
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) writes this morning, it was ‘a very difficult start to the season’ for Leao in which he had to find the right balance with Paulo Fonseca’s style. However, recent indications suggest that he is back to his best and is beginning to be decisive again.
Since the memorable night at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid, Leao seems to have turned a corner. Under the floodlights of the most important stadium in the world, the Portuguese winger – along with all his team-mates – offered an almost perfect performance.
This allowed him to gain confidence and awareness that he had lost during the first few months of the season. Against Cagliari he then scored a brace, while for Portugal against Poland he scored the opening goal and was generally regarded as being among the best on the pitch.
It was also with words that he showed what kind of a mindset that he is in, as he was asked a question about how things are going at club level, and he answered it in a mature way.
“I have nothing against the coach. These things happen, but it’s a resolved issue. I don’t like being on the bench, I always like to help the team. The decisions must be made by the coach. Both in the national team and at Milan, I always try to give my all to help my team,” he said.
The fact that he has returned to high levels, however, should not be considered the end game. On the contrary, it is necessary for Leao to take this new-found form with him even now that we are entering the heart of the season.
Rafa has always been a team man and the question was finding the right magic formula with Fonseca. Now that it seems to have been found, the former Lille star is calmer, and that is something that might make Juventus worry ahead of the game on Saturday 23 November.
It will be necessary for Milan to climb the table in order not to be already cut off from the fight for the title. To do so, they will need the help of their best players, and among them is Leao.