La Gazzetta Dello Sport analyses Portugal’s performance against Ghana, suggesting that Rafael Leao needs more playing time to help Cristiano Ronaldo be even more prolific.
The Milan striker scored his first World Cup goal with his first touch on Thursday in a 3-2 win over Ghana.
Leao has 12 international caps to his name but only started three matches with his national team and never played from start to finish. Today’s printed edition of La Gazzetta Dello Sport suggests the Milan star should be a regular starter for Portugal at the World Cup, playing on the left wing in place of Joao Felix.
The other option would be to slightly change the tactical approach, using a 4-2-3-1 formation and replacing the injured Otavio with the Rossoneri striker.
However, Portugal coach Fernando Santos is known for his defensive approach and it appears unlikely that he will include Leao in Portugal’s XI against Uruguay tomorrow.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist Fabio Licari, who is following the Lusitans in Qatar, giving Leao more playing time would help Ronaldo be more prolific, as happened at Milan with Olivier Giroud.
Leao was named the Best Serie A Player for 2021-22 after helping the Rossoneri win their first Scudetto in 11 years.
He has seven goals and nine assists in 20 appearances at a club level this term.
Yes! Leao needs to play more to showcase his skills. Milan need to sell him for as much as possible and reinvest.
Milan should never sell it’s best players.
We should have never sold Sheva to Chelsea, Kaka to Real, Zlatan and Silva to PSG.