The reaction of Rafael Leão to being substituted last night was the drop that made a vase that had been full for weeks overflow, but which the entire Milan environment had managed to keep from spilling over. Because his reaction to the substitution, including grimaces of dissatisfaction, slowness in carrying it out, the exchange with Allegri, and what he did afterward on the bench (he threw his jacket to the ground, kicked some water bottles and the cooler, and kept shaking his head continuously), are actions that encapsulate a complicated period in managing a player who, in 2026, is no longer a young prospect full of promise but a fully grown man, as well as an important player for what he represents and for the shirt he wears.
The events of Lazio-Milan
In the same stadium where he had been a protagonist of the mutiny, together with Theo Hernandez last year in Lazio–Milan under the eyes of Gerry Cardinale, Leão began the match with an attitude that was anything but convincing. He struggled to find his position on the field; he was not served well by his teammates, but he also almost never moved correctly to try to give fluidity to his team’s play. The result? No shots on target and no noteworthy actions in the first half. In the second half, however, he called for the pass from teammates at least twice, but he was ignored. This is also where his rather demonstrative reaction toward Christian Pulisic came from, guilty of not passing to him when Rafa had beaten the opposing defense to the ball. Then, when he saw the fourth official raise the substitution board with his shirt number on it, he did nothing to hide his dissatisfaction. The substitution happened slowly, so much so that Mike Maignan had to run about 50 meters across the field to urge Leão to speed things up. Then, when he reached the point of leaving the pitch, there was a brief argument with Allegri. The coach tried to hug him and calm the situation, but without success. Rafa’s attitude was also not appreciated by sporting director Igli Tare, who, caught by the cameras, clearly showed he did not like the way Leão left the field. That is what happened yesterday, but there is more.
An attitude that is no longer tolerable
For more than several weeks now, unfavorable winds have been blowing toward Leão because of a series of his behaviors, especially within the sacred walls of Milanello, that have not been appreciated by everyone: from teammates to the coaching staff and even the management. Several incidents (some even off the field) have created a feeling that is no longer one of protection toward a technically important player, but rather concern that he seems to have taken a path that could end up suffocating his own talent. Also because, at 27 years old and with a leadership role recognized by everyone, more would have been expected from him even in terms of taking care of his body outside Milanello. His pubalgia has not yet completely disappeared, but without the proper precautions it will not go away, and Leão risks dragging it along until the World Cup, where he would like to be one of Portugal’s protagonists. But much will depend on how he gets himself back on track with Milan.
Contract renewal: talks frozen
In light of all these elements, MilanNews.it has learned that any discussions regarding Leão’s contract renewal have been put in the freezer (already for several weeks) by the club. Before sitting down again at the negotiating table, the club wants to see very significant signs of change from Rafa, because at the moment it believes the conditions are not there to continue the dialogue. Now the renewal has to be earned, through a tangible demonstration in terms of performance.
Tactical situation
Partially in Leão’s defense, there is also the tactical issue. When Allegri decided to introduce the 3-5-2 formation, the player agreed to embrace the new system well aware that it would not highlight his characteristics. In fact, Leão has little or nothing of a traditional center-forward, and the match at the Olimpico further confirmed this situation. The absence of a true striker (Gimenez injured for four months, Füllkrug never a regular starter and used sparingly because of a toe problem) has certainly affected Rafa’s performances, as he found himself having to play as the main striker despite not being one. Massimo Ambrosini and Paolo Di Canio, in their respective analyses on DAZN and Sky, pointed out how using Leão as a center-forward has caused Milan to lose the Portuguese player’s potential, as he physically and mentally needs to remain actively involved in the match. That role, instead, leaves him very disengaged. And if, when he makes the right runs, he is not rewarded with the pass, then everything eventually explodes.
How should he be managed?
The question, in light of everything outlined above, is the final point of the analysis. Massimiliano Allegri, who is not satisfied with Leão’s performances, will have to make an important decision: bench him in order to make him understand that this behavior is not acceptable, or continue to trust him because the alternatives do not offer greater guarantees? One thing is certain: the formation will not change, because the 3-5-2 has brought Milan to second place and the other nine outfield players have performed well in this system. Changing the tactical setup for a single player could be a losing move for the group. Now it is truly up to Rafa to show that he wants to be worthy of Milan.
Source: Milan News.
