QS: A surge towards the season finale – Leao aims to lead Milan in decisive moment | OneFootball

Rafael Leao’s recent upturn in form has come at the right time for AC Milan, and Sergio Conceicao hopes he can contribute to a winning season finale.

As Quotidiano Sportivo write, Leao is ready to put Milan on his shoulders again, broad shoulders that have had to deal with the many labels stuck on, detached, stuck on again. Above all, that of the eternal unfinished business.

The 25-year-old is aware of this, as his recent ‘ups and downs’ social media post makes clear. In the meantime, for the fourth consecutive year he has already exceeded double figures for goals and assists this season.

He has 11 and 11 so far in 2024-25, with 15 and 13 last year, previously 16 and 14, and before that 14 and 12. Strangely, though, the Portuguese has not yet scored at San Siro in the league in the current campaign.

On the other hand, he has seven away goals in Serie A. He scored at home in December in the Coppa Italia (vs. Sassuolo) and in the Champions League (Red Star), as well as in January against Girona. Since then, almost three months have passed, with as many goals in Empoli, Bologna and Udinese.

Milan are a rollercoaster, like Leao: in 32 league games, he started from the bench on eight occasions. The crux of the matter, in the recent words of Conceiçao: “In terms of talent and quality he is already among the best in the world. He must work on being clinical to be so in everything. Consistency is needed to get to 20 goals and 15 assists a season.”

The coach used a 3-4-3 system on Friday night, approved by Leao: “We are more compact in defence and freer to attack forward. I feel good, we can do well.” He has rejected advances from Saudi Arabia, England and Barcelona, and has a contract until June 2028 worth €7m net per year, bonuses included.

His release clause of €175m active in the first two weeks of July but Rafa only has Milan in his head at present. The pursuit of a European spot hinges on the challenge on Sunday against Atalanta in the league, and next Wednesday in the Coppa Italia second leg against Inter.