GdS: Why Allegri is relying on Leao to lead the charge for Milan against Fiorentina

AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri will ask for Rafael Leao to become the leader, in the absence of other stars.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic will be missing against Fiorentina, but Leao is ready to start his first league match. Milan are reeling from the international break due to a wave of injuries, and now must rely on their No.10.

Leao returned early after his call-up to the Portugal squad and the first match against Ireland (29 minutes on the pitch), has been training at Milanello since the start of the week, and is eager to shine. Or rather, to score his first Serie A goal of the season.

He doesn’t like that zero in the goalscoring column, but above all because he knows that Milan need him, especially now. Indeed, he needs him to make the difference, just like in his best days, when Stefano Pioli was his coach.

Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

Injury issues

After returning to Milanello on Wednesday, Rabiot underwent an MRI scan yesterday to assess the left calf problem he suffered while playing for France. It was discomfort that prompted Deschamps to sit him out of the second match, against Iceland, but not to send him home early like Mbappé.

The scan revealed a muscle tear, and the feeling is that the former Juventus man will be out for about a month and will therefore be back again after the break. Rabiot would like to return sooner, say for the away match against Parma on Saturday November 8th, but he will be handled with care.

The situation is similar for Pulisic, who did not undergo tests yesterday due to a flight delay that caused him to miss his connecting flight to Italy. He will undergo a scan today, but there are few doubts about the injury to his right thigh flexor.

The only thing that remains to be determined is the extent of the problem and, consequently, the number of weeks he will be out. A strain greater than grade 1 would complicate his recovery before the break, and would further increase the Rossoneri’s irritation over how he was handled.

Alexis Saelemaekers, meanwhile, has improved. The flexor issue in his right leg seemed certain to have sidelined him for the match against Fiorentina, but the former Roma man trained intensively on the pitch yesterday. His feelings are positive, and he’ll try to rejoin the group today.

Then there’s Pervis Estupinan, who is dealing with the after-effects of a left ankle injury sustained against Ecuador. He trained separately yesterday and will try to pick up the pace between today and tomorrow. If either of the aforementioned can’t make it, Athekame and Bartesaghi are ready.

The Leao factor

If Rafael Leao trains today and tomorrow with the same intensity he showed this week and shows positive signs even when not in possession, the Portuguese will be a league starter for the first time on Sunday.

He’s highly motivated because he knows full well that after a promising preseason, his season hasn’t yet taken off. Granted, he scored in the Coppa Italia in mid-August against Bari, but then he got injured.

When he was used from the bench against Napoli and Juventus, he didn’t shine. In fact, in Turin against the Bianconeri, he missed two big chances that would have changed the game, and he was given a dressing down by Allegri.

On Sunday, he wants to definitively turn over a new leaf and start making a difference as a centre-forward, the new role Max has tailored for him.