A dip in form and no offers – Leao must stay at Milan to relaunch

Rafael Leao would be the first to admit that his season has not gone how he’d liked. However, in recent months, he has faced more scrutiny with his role at AC Milan differing, and clubs becoming heavily interested in him.

Last season, Leao was firmly at his best, scoring 15 goals in Serie A and assisting eight. However, this season, the level has dropped below the level expected of a player on his pay package.

Whilst he has assisted eight times, he has only scored seven times in the league, and whilst numbers outside of Serie A can be taken into account, his performances have been in spells rather than a consistent performer, something which is worrying considering his wage is paid consistently rather than sporadically and his performances should follow the same pattern.

As Gazzetta dello Sport writes, when Rafa was called to the bench, the Portuguese winger was met with whistles – which has become an increasingly common feature of the winger’s substitutions. However, upon his removal from the pitch, he went straight down the tunnel.

Anger? Definitely. At the fans? Unlikely. At himself? Probably.

Leao has consistently demanded the best of himself, and whilst in spells he has shown his best this season, it has been frustrating for him, and Gazzetta calls it his most confusing season.

The situation is strange in that Leao can very easily demand his €175 million release clause on his day, but this season, his day has been infrequent, and it is not feasible for anyone to pay that fee for him, with the persistent interest even fading a little.

His biggest strength, arguably, is his consistency in his numbers, and the expectation for this season was 20 Serie A goals. However, he has regressed slightly, and whilst there is no need to be overly concerned yet, he must grow from this and show he is worthy of the role that Milan needs him to play.