AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has joked that Rafael Leao told him the opposite when asked if the Portuguese winger prefers playing on the wing.
Leao got himself back into form with a dominant performance against Napoli at the weekend in which he started on the left side of the attack, at least on paper. His first goal came from a centre-forward’s run up the middle, but his second was a cut to the byline and a powerful shot past Meret.
The Portuguese forward has always been conflicting in what he has said about his favoured role, as he said he preferred being closer to goal when Pioli opted to switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Pioli spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello for his pre-match press conference and he was asked about Leao’s comments after the game in which he expressed a preference for starting out wide.
“I’m not satisfied with just one player. Rafa had told me the exact opposite, but it’s important that he’s happy and that he plays with a smile, he mustn’t be worried and anxious. He’s had a difficult time like the team,” he said (via MilanNews).
