Rafael Leao had the worst possible start to Milan’s Serie A trip to Lecce, as he pulled up with a thigh problem.
The Portugal international was trying to sprint on to a Tommaso Pobega through ball just eight minutes into the game at the Stadio Via del Mare.
Fans held their breath when he suddenly slowed down, then pulled up clutching the back of his right thigh.
Stefano Pioli was not prepared to take any risks with his star player and immediately substituted him with Noah Okafor.
According to DAZN, there is some hope that Leao avoided serious damage, as he told Pioli on the touchline that he ‘stopped straight away’ when feeling the twinge.
It is another damaging blow that comes just days after the 2-1 Champions League comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Christian Pulisic sustained another muscular issue in that game, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is on the bench today, but Pioli warned that the England international is in no condition to play after his comeback from the start in that European test.