Rafael Leao set to start for Milan at Verona despite recent criticism
Rafael Leao is in line to start for AC Milan in their Serie A fixture against Hellas Verona this weekend, according to reports from Italy. This comes despite the Portuguese forward being heavily criticized and even whistled by sections of the home support during Milan's recent disappointing draw with Udinese, a match in which he was deployed as a central striker.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri is expected to revert to a 3-5-2 formation for the trip to Verona, but Leao remains a strong candidate to feature from the outset alongside either Christian Pulisic or Christopher Nkunku. The decision is reportedly rooted in Allegri's desire to show continued faith in the 24-year-old, whose performances historically improve with consistent backing from his coach.
The scrutiny follows Allegri's surprising tactical choice last weekend, where he fielded Leao as a number nine against Udinese instead of natural strikers Santiago Gimenez or Niclas Fullkrug. This selection was born from a week of training experiments with a trident attack, aimed at revitalizing an offense that struggled against Napoli. Allegri's view of Leao as a central attacker, rather than a winger where defensive work is demanded, factored into the decision, as did Gimenez's ongoing recovery from a long-term ankle injury.
The experiment yielded mixed results. Leao, often isolated, struggled to impact the game centrally. Allegri made a halftime substitution, introducing Fullkrug for Aster Vranckx and shifting Leao to his familiar left-wing role. In that position, Leao created one of Milan's best chances of the afternoon, delivering a cross that Fullkrug failed to convert. The sequence highlighted the player's differing effectiveness based on his position on the pitch.
Leao's situation encapsulates a broader period of turbulence for Milan. The team's form has been inconsistent, leading to significant pressure and tactical tinkering from Allegri. The high-profile signings of Pulisic and Nkunku were meant to elevate the attack, but integrating them with the existing talent, including the mercurial Leao, remains a work in progress. His potential inclusion at Verona suggests Allegri is prioritizing player confidence and offensive fluidity as he seeks a formula to secure a crucial victory.
For Leao, a strong performance could quiet the growing dissent and solidify his place in Allegri's plans for the season's final stretch. His future at the club has been a recurring topic of speculation, making his response to this adversity a key subplot. For Milan, avoiding another tense, goal-shy performance against the league's bottom side is paramount to maintaining their Champions League qualification ambitions and stabilizing the atmosphere around the squad.
