It’s still July and Allegri’s Milan has only played two friendlies: real football is still a way off (but not too far). However, in these early outings, we’ve seen a Leao who seems to be sending different signals, starting with his position on the pitch. Allegri has taken it as a personal challenge: he wants to be the coach who finally brings out the best in Rafa Leao.
The Portuguese forward, who arrived at Milan in the summer of 2019, has dazzled on multiple occasions with moments and plays worthy of a star, yet those have often been interrupted by frustratingly long spells of inconsistency, especially considering the immense talent he possesses. With Pioli, he managed to bloom, but afterward, he never truly matured as one would expect from a player with his potential.
Allegri, who, throughout his long and successful career, has managed to get the best out of many talented players often labeled as inconsistent, began working on Rafa even before setting foot at Milanello. Phone calls and long conversations served to make clear the kind of role he expects from him and how much trust he places in him. Rafa listened and appreciated it, making himself fully available to the coach, as pointed out by those at Milannews.it.
Certainly in words, but clearly also on the pitch. Against Arsenal and Liverpool, Milan’s number 10 was deployed as a center-forward, with Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek moving around him. Leao, who has always struggled with the congestion of central areas, sent encouraging, and in some ways surprising, signals while playing as a focal point in attack. It’s true that Arsenal and especially Liverpool left large spaces, which Rafa thrives on, but the Portuguese forward was impressive both in linking up play early in the action and in finishing, with a left-footed goal (not an easy one, tucked under the crossbar) and an assist for Loftus-Cheek, another player revitalized under Allegri.
The squad still needs to be completed in the transfer market, and it’s obvious that in Serie A such wide open spaces, with highly offensive teams pressing high, will be rare. That’s why it’s important to note how technically clean Rafa was today (the same goes for his teammates), making him effective in various situations. It’s one of the key areas Allegri is focusing on, and it’s encouraging to already see some results, even as we wait to see what happens when the matches start to count.
In public, Allegri never misses a chance to praise his number 10:
"Leao did very well as a center-forward, just like the whole team, which is working well this preseason. He’s a strong player, has extraordinary qualities. I think he’s growing, he’s at the right age to have an important season."
That’s what everyone is hoping for.
