Rafael Leão, AC Milan’s star forward, finds himself under intense scrutiny following the Rossoneri’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the Champions League playoff first leg. The Portuguese international’s performance has been called into question, with Feyenoord defender Givairo Read offering a damning assessment of the Milan attacker’s abilities.
Read, a 19-year-old right-back, successfully neutralized Leão throughout the match and later shared his insights with Ziggo Sport: “He’s not that fast. It was very difficult to catch him in the first few meters, but I expected that. I watched some footage beforehand, so I knew what to expect. I believe the atmosphere at De Kuip helped distract him a bit, so I’m grateful to our fans.”
This critique highlights a growing concern for Milan – Leão’s predictability. Once hailed as one of Europe’s most exciting talents, the 25-year-old seems to have become a known quantity to opponents. His tendency to rely on individual brilliance rather than team play has become increasingly apparent and problematic for the Rossoneri.
Milan coach Sergio Conceição’s bold decision to field the “Fantastic Four” of Pulisic, Gimenez, João Felix, and Leão backfired spectacularly. While tactical discussions will inevitably follow, the most pressing issue remains the inconsistent character displayed by Milan’s star players, with Leão at the forefront of this criticism.
The Portuguese forward squandered a golden opportunity at the end of the first half, hesitating in a one-on-one situation with the Feyenoord goalkeeper. This moment encapsulated Leão’s current struggles – flashes of brilliance overshadowed by poor decision-making and a lack of end product.
As Milan prepares for their upcoming Serie A match against Verona, questions linger about Leão’s place in the starting lineup. Conceição has already shown a willingness to bench the forward, as evidenced by recent matches against Roma in the Coppa Italia and Empoli in Serie A. The growing sentiment is that Leão might be more effective as an impact substitute, utilizing his solo skills against tired defenses.
The January transfer window demonstrated that no player at Milan is truly untouchable, and Leão’s name has been linked with moves to Saudi Arabian clubs and Barcelona in recent months. While these rumors are nothing new, the clock is ticking for Leão to live up to his potential and justify his status as Milan’s highest-paid player.
As the second leg against Feyenoord looms, Leão and Milan face a crucial juncture. The forward must evolve beyond his predictable patterns and integrate more effectively with his teammates if he hopes to silence his critics and lead Milan to Champions League success. The coming weeks may well define Leão’s future at the San Siro and his standing in European football.
