Rafael Leao is a player that AC Milan invested a significant amount on last summer – €28m to be exact – but he has not settled in as well as hoped.
As Wednesday’s edition of Tuttosport notes (via MilanNews), the Portugal U21 international arrived with great expectations, but after glimpses of promise he has faded into obscurity with no spot in the starting XI available at present.
After the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a few starts under his belt, Leao seemed destined to become a staple of the Diavolo under Stefano Pioli but instead – due to the explosion of Rebic – he is now on the bench.
Persistent rumours continue to circulate about the arrival of Ralf Rangnick as the next head coach and sporting director of Milan, something which could spell good news for the former Lille forward.
As Tuttosport reports, in fact, the profile of Leao seems to marry perfectly with that of players that the German coach likes and appreciates, as he tends to focus on young players who are quick and can deploy his pressing style.
Obviously, the 21-year-old striker will have to up his game as well: he currently has just two goals in 21 games, but next year Leao will already have a Serie A season under his belt and potentially a manager more willing to take a chance on his abilities.
