Rafael Leao was the undisputed man of the match against Inter yesterday, but La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests he should be even more consistent: ‘If he had Ronaldo’s hunger…’
The Portuguese star scored two goals and delivered an assist in the Rossoneri’s 3-2 over their city rivals Inter yesterday.
Italian sports papers crowned him as the best player in the match, rating him 9/10 (Tuttosport and Corriere dello Sport) and 8.5/10 (Gazzetta).
However, Sebastiano Vernazza, one of La Gazzetta dello Sport’s correspondents at the Stadio Meazza, wrote that it is still hard to ‘trust’ Leao due to his inconsistency.
“This time, he scored two goals and assisted Olivier Giroud,” he wrote in this morning’s Pagelle.
“His second goal is something that only a few players can do. It requires speed, ball control and the ability to dribble many opponents, not just one. If he had Ronaldo’s hunger…”
Leao was named Serie A Player Of The Season in 2021-22 following Milan’s first title in 11 years.
However, he had struggled in the first four games of the current campaign scoring just one goal and offering disappointing performances, especially against Atalanta and Sassuolo.
As per Tuttosport, Leao is “illegal” for Serie A, but the Turin-based paper also pointed out that the Portuguese star doesn’t always show the same commitment. Il Corriere dello Sport commented on Leao’s performance saying that he has now become Simone Inzaghi’s nightmare.
Wait, so Ronaldo was deciding every game when he was 23?! Because I certainly don’t remember that.
Leao also decided the Bologna match with a goal and an as.sist in a 2-0 win. Doesn’t matter how he plays the rest of the match as long as he scores or as.sist. Atalanta and Sas.suolo sat deep and marked Leao with 3 players (defenders and midfielders) and each got a point.
Saladmaker runs harder than anybody else on full-commitment mode for 90 minutes. Let’s give him a Ballon d’Or.
Sure Leao could be more like CR7 but I love that he has a nonchalance about him, makes him fun to watch even as an opposite fan…
Is he a deciding factor in games often? Yes, yes he is. PERIOD.
If any club offers 150mil+ for him, do we sell him? Yes, yes we do. PERIOD.
I know a girl that looks like Leao, she is amazing.