The new Milan starts again with Leao: will he be a reinvented Rafa, beyond his unprecedented role as a center-forward, more determined and finally a true leader? Or will he remain the same unfinished talent, lacking the ruthlessness needed to be a lethal striker? The match against Fiorentina will provide the answer, though Leao could preempt it: it all depends on the attitude he brings to San Siro, where, by the way, he hasn’t scored in a league game for 511 days.
The last time was under Pioli’s Milan, the coach he’ll now face on the opposing bench. Rafa returned early from his commitments with the Portuguese national team, as agreed between Milan and the federation: he was already training alone at Milanello on Monday. Those who saw him at work say he was determined and happy to dedicate his energy to Milan. The decision to deploy Rafa as a striker dates back to when Allegri chose to tailor a new tactical setup for his team, a 3-5-2 with two unconventional forwards. But there’s also a fresh motivation stemming from recent events: Max had reprimanded Leao in the Juventus stadium locker room, in front of his teammates, after missed chances attributed, by the coach and everyone else, to a lack of focus rather than poor aim. Now, there’s a clear intent to give Rafa a chance at redemption.
What are Allegri's choices? So, Leao from the start, but who alongside him?
Everything hinges on a player who, conversely, won’t start: Nkunku. Here, the French national team comes into play again, having returned two out of three Rossoneri players battered or injured (Rabiot). Nkunku hasn’t yet trained with the team due to a knock to his foot sustained on international duty and is also likely to be ruled out. As a result, Loftus-Cheek would likely support Rafa in attack, playing as a muscular trequartista, a role he’s filled before. Allegri would then have Gimenez as a card to play during the match: Santi returned healthy from his commitments with Mexico, a rare piece of good news these days, and has already trained with intensity. If Nkunku is fit enough for the bench, he could be the attacking substitute, with Gimenez starting alongside Leao. The most likely option, however, remains Loftus-Cheek supporting Rafa. With the attack covered this way, the midfield would be left exposed: Ricci would step in alongside Modric and Fofana. No other midfielders are available, with Jashari and Rabiot sidelined by injuries. Adrien is one of the notable absentees, alongside Pulisic and, potentially, Saelemaekers, if he starts on the bench. These are three of the team’s top four performers: Gazzetta dello Sport’s average match ratings for league games rank Modric as Milan’s best performer, followed by Pulisic and Rabiot to complete the podium. Just below them is Saelemaekers, tied with Gabbia and Fofana.
Regarding all departments:
Starting with the defense: Maignan is the only Frenchman to return unscathed from international duty and will be protected by the usual back three of Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlovic. If the rest of the lineup is confirmed, this will be a Milan that’s half-new: at least four outfield players out of ten could differ from the typical Milan lineup. The changes also include the wing-backs: Bartesaghi will be confirmed on the left in place of Estupinan, who’s not at his best after an injury sustained with Ecuador.
From one side of the world to the other, the international break has been filled with negative news for Max: back in Europe, Saelemaekers had picked up an issue with Belgium. Once at Milanello, Alexis trained with the group, including yesterday’s session, but it’s not ruled out that Allegri might opt not to risk him, as relayed via Gazzetta dello Sport. In his place, Zachary Athekame could make his Serie A debut as a starter, fresh off another step up: called up for Switzerland’s Under-21 team, he was quickly promoted to the senior national team. If Nkunku doesn’t recover, Saelemaekers would likely be the substitute to bring on during the match.
