On an afternoon when AC Milan, from the goalkeeper to the manager, including substitutes and staff, delivered their worst performance of the year, the image that lingers the next day is still that of Rafael Leão walking off the pitch to deafening whistles at San Siro, after enduring 77 minutes of grumbles and discontent from the fans. The Portuguese forward, the number 10 and highest-paid player in the squad, the crown jewel of the team for many Rossoneri supporters, has become the symbol of the Devil’s collapse: he is supposed to be the one who makes the difference on the pitch, the emblem of the side, yet he fails to do so, and that is why the understandable anger of Milan’s fans has been directed at him (whether one agrees with it or not).
Relationship broken down:
This morning, colleagues at La Gazzetta dello Sport, analysing the 0–3 defeat to Udinese Calcio, devoted significant space to the “Leão case”. In particular, they emphasised how, after what may have been the lowest point of his time in a Milan shirt, Rafa’s relationship with the club now appears compromised. In a season affected by injuries, in which he still remains the team’s top scorer, from March onwards Leão has seemed increasingly detached from Milan’s play. His last goal dates back to 1 March, and overall his numbers are very poor for a player of his talent: just 2 goals in the second half of the season, with a scoring rate of 0.18 per match and an average of 1.36 points with him on the pitch. Even worse is the assist column, where he has recorded none. All this is compounded by a relationship with the fans that worsens week by week: last night’s whistles are clear evidence of that.
Uncertain future:
In this tangled and difficult season for Leão, there have also been rumours about a possible contract renewal. At present, Rafa is tied to Milan until 2028, and in recent months the club had begun moving towards finding an agreement to continue together. From 2026 onwards, however, no real progress has been made, much like the situation with Christian Pulisic. Considering both the player’s performances and psychological state, as well as the atmosphere among the Rossoneri supporters towards him, the Portuguese forward’s future in Milan now seems more uncertain than ever. Unless there is a dramatic and sudden upturn in form in the final matches, this summer Leão’s situation will be carefully assessed, and a joint decision will be made on which path to follow.
