"Rafael Leao has scored eight goals in 18 games this season for AC Milan, and yet there is still a big question mark (or two) hanging over his head. As MilanNews write, Massimiliano Allegri never misses an opportunity to reiterate in his press conferences and TV interviews that Leao isn't yet at his best physically and is dealing with pain in his adductor muscles."
"Before this latest setback - one that he is trying to play through - Leao already missed over one month at the start of the season due to a calf injury suffered in the Milan-Bari Coppa Italia match. His new role has shown he can make an impact even when he's only half-fit. Goals, penalties and assists to set up his team-mates have come despite his issues, precisely because in a front two he is occupying spaces closer to goal."
"During his time at Milan, Rafa has accustomed everyone to his 100-mile-per-hour runs down the left flank and his dribbles that beat multiple players. It is a 'cheat code' of sorts that only very few players have, yet it hasn't been seen for a long time. With pain to manage and playing in tighter spaces, Leao is no longer able to be that game-breaker, and he isn't making opponents tremble in open play."
Rafael Leao has scored eight goals in 18 games while managing recurring adductor inflammation and an earlier calf injury that cost over a month. Massimiliano Allegri reports Leao is not at full physical fitness and experiences fluctuating pain that risks developing into pubalgia if mismanaged. Leao has adapted to a front-two role, producing goals, penalties and assists from spaces closer to goal despite limited fitness. The reduced ability to make long curling runs down the left and beat multiple players has diminished his game-breaking threat in open play. Allegri continues to select him, believing Leao can still be decisive, but questions remain over sustainability.
Read at SempreMilan
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]