Leão Forced to Exit: The Reason
The substitution of Rafael Leão during the match against Atalanta raised multiple questions among fans and insiders. Massimiliano Allegri clarified in the press conference that the Portuguese forward, already hampered by the previous match against Pisa, had a hip issue and was not at 100% fitness. This forced the coach to make the difficult decision to replace him.
Leão, known for his speed and ability to make a difference on the field, was not impacting the game, showing a certain slowness in movements and lack of incisiveness. This season is proving to be very demanding for Milan, with challenges in the league, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa, in addition to international duties putting significant strain on the squad’s energy. Injury management is becoming critical.
Leão’s performances have been somewhat inconsistent: he had already scored against Fiorentina and Pisa, but struggled to find space and rhythm in Bergamo. There are, however, increasingly necessary strategic shifts that Allegri must make, as the short squad limits adequate rotations. Systematic changing would boost the team’s competitiveness.
The next match will be crucial in determining if Leão can recover and return to the field. Allegri hopes to also recover other injured players such as the left-back and midfielder, whose contributions would be essential to facing upcoming games with a more complete and competitive squad.
