Leao Like CR7: Allegri’s Plan to Unleash Milan’s No.10

Rafa Leao
Rafa Leao has been with Milan since the summer of 2019 and is now one of the senior figures in the squad. Comparing Leao to Cristiano Ronaldo may sound like a bold statement, but the two share more than just Portuguese nationality. They both have a natural inclination to focus more on the attacking phase than the defensive one. And they both have a common thread: Max Allegri.Allegri, who coached CR7 in the 2018-19 season during his first spell in Italy, is determined to help Leao take the final step towards becoming a world-class forward. Since day one, Allegri has worked closely with Rafa, talking to him, motivating him, and giving praise whenever he makes the right moves in training. The coach believes that when Leao performs consistently, Milan’s entire outlook transforms. However, Allegri also knows better than to expect excessive defensive sacrifice from his number 10. Previous strict approaches adopted by Fonseca and then (initially) by Conceiçao didn’t yield the expected results. Despite reaching double figures in goals and assists, Leao failed to truly dazzle last season.

Allegri in his first press conference since returning to Milan

How Leao Will Get More Freedom Under Allegri?

Allegri plans to take a different route because he knows that the talented Almada native isn’t a Di Livio-type soldier who relentlessly tracks back and forth down the flank. This is where Allegri’s experience with Cristiano comes in handy. Back in 2018-19, Juventus often lined up in a 4-3-3, the same system Milan is likely to use. Just like Ronaldo, who operated wide left and needed cover when possession was lost, Leao will benefit from a similar support mechanism.

At Juventus, Matuidi was the player who drifted to the left flank, turning the formation into a 4-4-2 when defending, while Dybala or Bernardeschi dropped into midfield. At Milan, this job will often fall to Pulisic, who frequently performed that role last season. The question is: who will shift left to cover Rafa’s back? It’s hard to expect Modric to do it regularly at this stage of his career. The responsibility could land on Fofana or Loftus-Cheek, though the final midfield setup depends on whether Milan completes the deal for Jashari.

One certainty is that Leao will be asked to contribute more defensively than Ronaldo did when he first arrived in Serie A, simply because Rafa is younger and holds a different status. Still, Allegri will be careful not to exhaust or stifle him, convinced that the No.10 has yet to display his full attacking potential. That’s why Rafa will start his runs closer to the opposition penalty area.

The Left Back Question

Another crucial piece of this puzzle is the new left-back Milan plans to sign. Unlike Theo Hernandez, who was brilliant in attack for five years but increasingly unreliable defensively last season, the new fullback must be more diligent with defensive cover and better at closing down space. With extra protection from the left-back and midfield, the hope is that Leao will finally showcase the best version of himself. Conceiçao tried to unlock him with a 3-4-3, while Allegri will rely on his signature “lopsided midfield.”

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