Rafael Leao’s name is constantly in the headlines after dragging AC Milan to the Scudetto win last season and given his contract situation.
Tuttosport (via MilanNews) recalls that Leao has a contract expiring in 2024 and an agreement has long been sought over a renewal that appears complicated. Amongst all this, it must be noted that in the evenings in which the winger was not at his best, Milan also struggled.
It is almost a fact that when Leao is not up to his usual high standards, Milan are unable to play at a high level too. Milan have dropped points in the two draws against Atalanta and Sassuolo, the defeat against Napoli and the last two away matches against Torino and Cremonese.
In each of these games, except for the defeat against the Neapolitans, Leao did not shine. In pretty much all of the Rossoneri’s victories, Leao has always found a way to give the team a hand.
Stefano Pioli and the club in general have always shielded the former Lille man, underlining his serenity in training and his hunger to win, like the whole team. It is clear though that both the theme linked to the renewal – which has been dragging on for a few months – and the goal of playing a World Cup in Qatar as a protagonist could be influencing the Portuguese player.
Regarding the extension, the distance between offer and demand – €7m net per season Leao’s request and €6m the club’s proposal – does not seem unbridgeable. The real problem is related to the fine that the player must pay to Sporting CP which inevitably will weigh on Rafa’s salary.
Player want at least 9m net. Which is gross how much? Maybe 12m or 13mil in his situation. He would give sporting 10mil in 5 year and Milan to Leao 75 mil in 5 years.
Leao becomed good player at Milan. Before Milan he was less then average, But he is nothing more then that. Like Cassano said.
Milan should take risky job, use good connection at Chelsea and swap Leao for Pulisic and Broja. Or only Pulisic and take some amount of money. Maybe 40 mil or 60mil it depends if would Chelsea give us Broja. With 40 or 60 mil we can buy good left winger and possible one more player.
“It is almost a fact that when Leao is not up to his usual high standards, Milan are unable to play at a high level too.”
Almost a fact??? LOL. I think we all can agree that Leao hasn’t been that brilliant during the last couple of weeks, right? From the last 17 goals Milan have scored, only 2 of them are in Leao’s name and addition to that he made only 1 assist. Does that sound like Milan is dependent of his performances?
Milan scored 8 goals in two matches in UCL. Leao scored one of them and didn’t contribute to others except for the assist on Giroud’s goal (which wasn’t an assist officially as the defender plundered it).
So… “Almost a fact” isn’t anywhere near a fact. And that’s a fact. 🙂
Oh… And the Napoli match…. Milan dominated the game and played significantly better that Napoli. Napoli just was ruthless in their chances (and got the penalty gifted to them). Was Leao on the pitch? Nope. Milan still played well.
But, Is he really not up to his standards, or is this his standard based on the past 3.5 years as a Milan player?
He is someone who plays good 1 game (usually vs a mid to bottom table team) and then he is bad for 2,3 games.
Last season, his best career season, he had 10 goals & 11 assists in Serie A. That comes to an average of 1 goal, 1 assist per month.
This season he has 5 goals & 4 assists in Serie A, in 4 months.
It looks to me that Leao has been playing exactly up to HIS usual standards. I don’t know why the word HIGH was inserted into the sentence
Well… Cannot argue with facts you brought to the table. 🙂
I appreciate that you don’t try to argue facts with emotions, unlike some people on this platform.
And those numbers are the reason why I call Leao the weakest MVP in Serie A history. 1 goal 1 assists per month.
Even this article says that Leao “dragged Milan to the scudetto.” That’s such an insult, to Maignan, who had 17 clean sheets, to the defense, to Kessie and Tonali, and especially to Oliver Giroud, who won Milan all the big games last season especially the derby, which actually changed Milan season in 3 minutes.
“That’s such an insult, to Maignan, who had 17 clean sheets, to the defense, to Kessie and Tonali, and especially to Oliver Giroud, who won Milan all the big games last season especially the derby, which actually changed Milan season in 3 minutes.”
Yep. Remove even one of them from the equation and Milan wouldn’t have won the scudetto – Leao or no Leao.
I just hope Rafeol leao stays with us ,i say that when he plays alongside Olivier Giroud ,they have a great understanding and of course that leads to goals ..
Olivier has been an amazing bargain buy ,and not surprised that he has been called up for the France squad alongside the also impressive Theo Hernandez.
Let’s remain optimistic as we are still going quite well
and although 8 points behind leaders Napoli ,it’s not impossible to claw this back .We are in the champions leauge ,and i certainly expect us to beat Tottenham and go into the last 8 ..So please remain optimistic and hopeful fans ..