Rafa will spend his birthday on June 10th in the stands while his teammates play a friendly against Nigeria: the attacker was sent off last Saturday for violent conduct against Chile
A year ago, in these days, Rafa Leao was – as always – on everyone’s lips: the fans, the possible suitors, the Rossoneri management. But it was a situation at odds with the current one: the suitors were not only there, but they were also of a high level – Bayern -, Milan tended not to want to sell him and in any case had set the price at around 100 million. Another universe. Twelve months later, there is no longer any trace of all this: Rafa currently has no market (at least, he doesn’t have one at a level that satisfies him), he put himself up for sale on his own, and for those who really want it it only costs half the price. The only thing that unites those days to these days is a date: June 10th, or when the Portuguese has his birthday.
adulthood, but…
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Now I’m 27 and in reality not much has changed since 26. Leao has entered adulthood some time ago, in fact in theory he should be at the peak of his footballing maturity. However, reality tells a different story and continues to leave him in an eternal limbo in which the only real jolt to his career in recent times was, in fact, the public desire to say goodbye to Milan. Rafa will celebrate his birthday in the national team retreat and he will do it… punished. Yes, because June 10th coincides with the last friendly match that Portugal will face before their world debut on Wednesday next week. A test against Nigeria which does not include the presence of Rafa, who was stopped by the sports judge after his expulsion against Chile last Saturday. Leao had put his hands in Roman’s face several times, intervening in defense of a teammate. Violent conduct and inevitable red for him, a direct red like never before in his career and a fairly clear symptom of how problematic this period is. In short, the world adventure has not started in the best way and it is to be hoped that the situation will improve quickly because Rafa’s fate is closely linked to the quality he will be able to give to his tournament: the more he stands out, the more clubs there will be potentially interested. It’s good for him, it’s good for Milan. While waiting there will be a birthday to spend in the stands.