Rafa plays the role of the people’s leader in Cremona: “It’s a week in which we don’t go out, we stay at home with the family and everyone has to find their own way to stay focused”
Goal, at least for him, is always in fashion. Rafa Leao scored for the tenth time of the season – double figures – at the end of a week in which he made headlines more than anything for his presence at the Fashion Week shows. In Cremona, however, we saw a classic Rafa from the 2026 autumn-winter collection: he played as a center forward and then as a wide player, he wasted two big opportunities, he helped the team with some plays. For better or for worse, already seen. The most interesting Leao, therefore, is that of the post-match, in which Rafa acted as the leader of the people, wearing a dress he had never worn in the past: “I ask my teammates for the derby to give their best and take it personally, because it’s a life or death match.”
rafa and the inter
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Leao has an ancient relationship with Inter. Meanwhile, he could have become a Nerazzurri player, before Antonio Conte – Inter coach at the time – said “no thanks”. He wanted an experienced striker, with different characteristics. He wanted Lukaku. Rafa told his point of view in an interview: “The sporting director of Lille told me that they were about to sell me to Inter. I said no, I wanted to stay another year to grow. He insisted but I didn’t change my mind. After a few weeks, he came back to me: ‘Milan are there’. I immediately said yes. Paolo Maldini called me on video. He told me ‘you have to come, we are ready to take you’. I couldn’t refuse.” Against Inter he alternated great matches – the best in September 2022, with the scudetto on his chest – and sad moments, such as the injury that affected the preparation of the 2023 Champions League semi-final.
his game
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His match in Cremona was complex, with good things but also mistakes. Rafa had many opportunities. Folino anticipated him after 10 minutes, while Rafa wasted a one-on-one with Audero by kicking out and deflected Rabiot’s cross high after an hour of play. In the end he tried alone – central shot 17 minutes from the end – but he scored with a courteous tribute from Nkunku, who placed the ball in front of the empty goal on the counterattack. Pulisic, an hour earlier, could have done the same but kicked on Audero. “We had many opportunities, even me personally – said Leao -. I should have done more, even if I scored afterwards. I’m going out a bit like this because I wasn’t concentrated on the details of finishing.”
How is Rafa?
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Leao, net of goals and waste, seemed to be growing athletically but as always with the speed limiter in the sprints. There is an action in the 5th minute of the second half that says a lot. Milan starts again and Modric creates his favorite situation for them: one on one with Folino, with half the pitch available. Rafa does what logic and his memory tell him – he points at the opponent – but he never takes advantage of speed and ends up dragging the ball to the back. He’s still not well, obviously. “We are working to resolve this inflammation – he said at the end, not by chance -. I have always tried to do my best, I am getting better and better even if I still feel a bit of discomfort. Everyone pushed me, they helped me a lot”.
the derby
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So, derby. Leao goes beyond calling out his teammates: “Derby week is always different. We don’t go out, we stay at home with the family and everyone has to find their own way to stay focused. The environment will be very nice. Inter is a great team but we, with all due respect, arrive with the desire to get a result. We will have to prepare it very well, the coach knows this match. And in my opinion we arrive ready.” There is a desire to recall 2022, for another late winter derby. Leao has seven days to find someone to wear the outfit of his big brother Giroud, who continues to score in Lille – his old home.
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