GdS: Leao has two days to convince Fonseca after avoiding Bologna bench

Rafael Leao has been in the spotlight recently as Noah Okafor is giving him a run for his money on the left flank. With Napoli up next, the winger is keen on ‘regaining’ the starting spot, as a report highlights. 

Today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below) has dedicated a page to Leao and the last few weeks. He played from start against Club Brugge but was replaced by Okafor, who got an assist immediately after coming on. The Swiss international was thus crucial again, after the great hockey assist against Udinese.

Had the Bologna game been played today, as the newspaper continues, then Leao would have been on the bench. Now, however, the Portuguese international has two days to regain his spot and convince Fonseca ahead of the big game against Napoli.

More lows than highs

It has been a tough season so far for Leao, probably reaching the lowest point of his career at Milan. From the argument with a fan in Parma, the cooling break in Rome and remaining on the bench against Udinese, the winger has a lot of things to prove.

Despite being a compatriot, the relationship with Paulo Fonseca is not on the same level as the one he had with Stefano Pioli. The manager has made certain requests that the player has been unable to fulfil, resulting in heavier rotation on the left flank.

Pioli was more relaxed and tolerant, while Fonseca treats Leao like any other professional. In short, there have bene more lows than highs from Leao this season and the manager has been left with no choice but to give other players a go. And it has paid off as well.

Club continues to show support

Milan’s management has been keeping a close eye on the situation and the visit by Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well as Geoffrey Moncada after the Club Brugge game confirms this. The Swede spoke to Leao and reiterated that the club considers him a key player, but also pointed out that his performances have been far from the highs we had become used to.

The words were thus to encourage rather than criticise, as Milan remain aware of the fact that they need Leao at his best to progress as a club. Fonseca agrees with this but also cannot give Leao too many chances without results, requesting maximum sacrifice from all players.

It remains to be seen if Leao can win back his starting spot against Napoli, as an exclusion against the Partenopei certainly would make a lot of noise in the media. The latter is not something that Fonseca cares about, though, doing what’s best for the team rather than what pleases the media.