Rafa needs to recover from a strained left flexor: here’s how he will work to be on the pitch soon. He will go to Arabia, and if his teammates take him to the final…
The ticket in the name of Rafael Alexandre da Conceição Leão is ready, it has a date – December 31st – and a destination: Riyadh. Rafa Leao was in Portugal during the Christmas break to see his twins and in Santo Stefano he did physiotherapy. The best way to spend time recovering from a flexor stretch. The goal now is to go to Riyadh not as a fan but as a Milan player.
the timing of the return to the field
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Leao will soon have other tests and will try to speed up the process and move from physiotherapy to the field. Impossible for him to play on Sunday evening against Roma. The point is to understand whether he will be able to play against Juventus on January 3rd for the Super Cup semi-final. At the moment, more no than yes, but the next few days, the exams, Rafa’s feelings will be decisive. Given his importance for Milan, forcing it would be risky. Christian Pulisic, so to speak, is much further ahead: he will already be there with Roma and between Saturday and Sunday Fonseca will decide whether to start him or in the second half.
what Milan will do
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However, Milan’s idea with Leao is clear: take him to Riyadh anyway, hoping he will be able to play in the King Saud stadium, which usually hosts the matches of his national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. In the semi-final or in the final, if his teammates give it to him. After all, he has revenge to take. Leao played the Super Cup with Milan two years ago, again in Riyadh: 0-3 against Inter, for him in that match two shots (one saved, one very high), a cross for Giroud but also a feeling of helplessness. Inter dominated.
the numbers: how much it weighs
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For Milan this season, Leao is the best for assists, the second for expected goals and expected assists, the first for progressive passes, clearly the first for shots and actions that lead to a shot. Not that numbers were needed, but these are very clear: Rafa is the most important player on the team in the last 20 meters. If it’s about defending, building, being aggressive, go ahead without it. To scare Di Gregorio or Perin a little, well, that plane ticket comes in handy.
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