Analysis on Leao: ‘Are expectations too high on Milan star?’

Journalist Luigi Garlando suggested that expectations on Rafael Leao may be too high as the Milan star works to avoid the path of Mario Balotelli.

The 24-year-old Portuguese winger is considered to be one of the standout figures in Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri squad, being a focal point of their attack and a player capable of magic moments. This term, he’s netted 12 goals and provided 12 assists across 39 matches.

Despite his productive work this season, Leao has still continued to attract criticism from some Milan fans and other onlookers, with some feeling that his maturity and consistency still impact his ability to take the next step forward, compared to his peers like Kylian Mbappe and Phil Foden.

Earlier in the year, report suggested that Paris Saint-Germain had identified Leao as a possible option to replace Mbappe in the summer, but the Milan star seems happy in Italy and isn’t expected to leave this summer, having a contract lasting to June 2028.

Leao expectations

Writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, journalist Garlando analysed the discourse surrounding Leao and if expectations are too high on the Milan star.

“After the famous and unfortunate back-heel against Newcastle, which contributed to Milan’s elimination from the Champions League, we pointed out that Rafa Leao was at a crossroads.

“Maturing, growing continuously and effectively to set out on the path of Mbappé and those who jostle for the Ballon d’Or, or stay in the middle of the ford of potential and risk squandering your talent, like Balotelli.

“It was an objective perspective, not a comparison of values, but in the Rossoneri church it sounded like blasphemy. Heavens open… Last Thursday, 205 days later, Leao was substituted in the 33rd minute of the second half, with Milan trailing, following their worst performance of the season.

“The barrage of whistles that accompanied him towards the tunnel, he, usually pampered, protected by the people, was surprising. Patience exhausted in church.

“Tired? He had five days to recover from the walk with Lecce, a 24-year-old boy. Tactically harnessed? Well done to El Shaarawy, but a champion, if in tactical trouble, leaves his comfort zone and goes looking for the spots where he can hurt. Like Dybala.

“Rafa left the pitch with his face covered by his hands and his eyes glossy, disappointed with his performance and his inability to meet expectations on an important night. The expectations, exactly.

“Ten years ago, in the wake of the disastrous Brazilian World Cup, the coach outgoing Cesare Prandelli declared: ‘We were wrong to expect too much from Balotelli, to ask him to be a champion. Mario is a boy who has good shots, but he is not a champion’.

“Are we expecting too much from Rafa too? His season, for now, is that of a boy who has ‘good shots’ and who often decides, especially with the eight assists. But five months passed between the third and fourth of his few championship goals (six).

“Consistency was lacking, often even within the same match, his Achilles heel. Ultimately, Milan-PSG at San Siro was the only, true, great performance, solid, concrete, intense, worthy of the superior status he aspires to. On a gala night. Against Lecce it’s another thing.

“In the last few league games, it seemed that the Portuguese had gained good consistency of performance. Against Roma, the dramatic denial.

“And what if the real Leao was definitively the one who appears and disappears in the folds of the match and whose performance, between one match and another, fluctuates like the seismometer during an earthquake?

“As Prandelli suspected of Mario, perhaps, we expect a transfiguration from Rafa that by nature he cannot achieve, at 24 years old, which is no longer a childish age.”