Rabiot and Pulisic will miss the match against Fiorentina, but Rafa Leao is ready to start his first Serie A game of the season. Milan, hit by injuries to the Frenchman and the American after the international break, and with Saelemaekers and Estupiñán not in top condition, will rely on their number 10.
In fact, Leao returned early after playing 29 minutes for Portugal against Ireland. He has trained at Milanello since the start of the week and wants to make an impact. More than that, he wants to score his first Serie A goal of the season. He dislikes seeing zero in his scoring column, and he knows Milan needs him now. They need the version of him that makes the difference, like in his best days under Pioli, who will be his opponent on Sunday night.
What's the latest injuries situation at AC Milan?
Rabiot returned to Milanello on Wednesday and underwent an MRI on Thursday to check the left calf issue he suffered with France. The discomfort kept Deschamps from playing him against Iceland, though he was not sent home early like Mbappé. Tests showed a soleus muscle injury that will be re-evaluated in about ten days. The hematoma should be absorbed by then, and further scans will follow. The feeling is that the former Olympique player will be out for around a month and return after the break. He has often recovered faster than expected, but given the delicate nature of the muscle, the same one that kept Leao out for 40 days, both the coaching and medical staff will proceed carefully. If he is not fit for Parma on November 8, he will miss France’s next call-up and should return for the derby on November 23. That means he will miss five Serie A matches: Fiorentina, Pisa, Atalanta, Roma, and Parma.
A similar situation applies to Pulisic. He missed his tests yesterday due to a delayed flight connection to Italy. He will undergo scans today, but there are few doubts about his injury, a right thigh flexor problem, likely involving the biceps femoris. The tests will determine its severity and how many weeks he will be sidelined. A grade-two strain would make recovery before the break difficult and increase Milan’s frustration over how “Captain America” was handled by U.S. coach Pochettino, especially since he was already not 100% due to an ankle issue.
Doubts...
Saelemaekers’ situation has improved. He left Belgium’s match against North Macedonia after an hour due to right hamstring pain, which seemed to rule him out for Fiorentina. But yesterday, the former Roma player trained with good intensity. His feelings are positive, and he will try to rejoin the group today. If there are no setbacks, Alexis will likely play on the right wing. If not, Athekame, who has made three substitute appearances so far, is an option, as pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition. Estupiñán is still recovering from a left ankle injury suffered with Ecuador. He trained separately yesterday and will try to speed up recovery today or tomorrow. Bartesaghi, well-regarded by Allegri, is ready to replace him if needed.
Leao's opportunity?
If Rafa maintains this week’s intensity in training and shows the same work rate off the ball, he will start in Serie A for the first time this season. He is highly motivated. After a promising preseason, his season has stalled. He scored in the Coppa Italia against Bari in mid-August, but then got injured. In his two substitute appearances, against Napoli and Juventus, he did not impress. In Turin, he missed two chances that could have changed the game and did not show enough effort for the team. On Sunday, he wants to turn the page and prove himself again, this time as a centre-forward, the new role Allegri has given him.
