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A new challenge
Confirm AC Milan winger Rafael Leao needs a new challenge outside the Italian leagueHe blamed Massimiliano Allegri for the Rossoneri’s poor performance this season.
“I need a new challenge outside of Italy,” Leo told the Portuguese Sport TV channel before the World Cup.
“I’ve already won two titles in Italy and I’ve been there for a while. The league is developing, but for my style of football, I think the English Premier League or the Spanish league will make more use of my talent as a player.”
He continued. “If an opportunity arises in the Premier League, I will be very happy. I think I can use my talent to compete with the players there who are at a very high level. Playing in this type of championship really brings out the best in a player.”
There have been reports of interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, but so far his agents appear to have offered him to those clubs, with no offers confirmed.
The only real offers appear to be from Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, but Leao has made it clear he is not looking for such a destination.
Milan have suffered this season and failed to qualify for the Champions League after a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at home to Cagliari led to the sacking of Allegri and the entire administrative staff.
Leo added: “It was a difficult season. We didn’t qualify for the Champions League and I played when I was injured for 4-5 months with groin pain and in a position I wasn’t comfortable with. The tactical system didn’t help me.”
He continued. “I felt I could make a difference, but the team’s performance didn’t put me in a position to do that. In the end, it exhausted me.”
Allegri originally wanted to use Leao as a left winger in a 4-3-3 formation, but he quickly moved away from that and adopted a 3-5-2 formation, moving him to a straight forward position.
This was largely due to the fact that the Portuguese international could not be relied upon to drop back and cover the defence.
“As a winger, after dribbling I have more time to think about whether I want to shoot, dribble more or try to cross,” Leao explained when discussing his preferred position.
He continued. “However, playing as a striker brings me closer to the goal and I have to be more determined. Either you score or you shoot. That’s a little thing I need to work on.”
“Competitive teams have found a way to adapt to my style of play. When the ball reaches me as a winger, there are already two or three defenders coming to block the space in front of me. “If I start deep, I can go into the box two or three times and then go back to the wings, which makes my movements more unpredictable.”
