Yahoo Sports GdS: Goals, hugs and a ‘new’ role – the signs Fonseca and Leao’s turbulent period is over
It has certainly been a positive week for Rafael Leao, and the hope is that it will bring an end to the rocky period with head coach Paulo Fonseca.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Milan might be returning home from Cagliari with feelings of discouragement after the party at the Bernabeu, but over the two games Leao has been the big positive.
Two clues do not yet make conclusive proof, but it is close to being. In Spain and in Sardinia the winger has had an upturn after the ‘turbulence’ of the last few weeks. We do not know if Fonseca’s management method will actually pay off in the end, but in the meantime Leao has given positive signals.
Consistency has never been the strong point of the former Lille man but perhaps the coach’s decision to try get him out of his comfort zone might work. Another sign came: when Leao left the field he went to his coach, they shook hands and hugged.
It seemed like a spontaneous hug too, not one solely for the benefit of the camera. On the other hand, the forward was happy because he had scored a brace, while on the other the team were winning at that moment.
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It is conceivable that the relationship that will always remain on the edge of tension but in the meantime the steps forward are evident and undeniable. Leao is now a proud father, he scored for the first time since August 31 and got his first brace since June 2023.
He seems to be evolving in terms of characteristics and role, too. He is more of a centre-forward than before, not so much for the goals but because he is often the furthest forward while the striker (Alvaro Morata, or Francesco Camarda last night) drops deeper.
There are two bits of evidence to support that: the turn and shot that led to Morata’s goal in Madrid, and a shot against Cagliari in the ninth minute where he again span and fired. His second goal also came from a run down the middle.
