GdS: “Milan striker without Leao”

AC Milan return to action this evening to face league leaders Napoli at the San Siro, but will be without Rafael Leao from the first minute.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (see below) writes this morning, Napoli arrive with an eight-point lead over the Rossoneri, which is also due to this the game that was postponed at the weekend against Bologna.

After wins against Udinese and Club Brugge since the international break, the key is to become more consistent for Milan. However, there is shocking news: Paulo Fonseca should once again choose to bench Rafael Leao from the start.

The paper coined a new term: “leaout.” The winger will be excluded from the starting eleven again tonight, in such an important game for Milan against a rival they have often struggled with in recent years and against whom Leao has done well.

Yesterday, Fonseca wanted to immediately clarify – without revealing his decisions – that Leao's exclusions are not penalties but simple technical decisions.

“Rafa worked well as always and that is neither a problem nor a coincidence. “We are sure he will return soon to show what we expect from him,” he said.

Now everything is in the player's hands: it's up to him to reclaim his place with the time at his disposal. At the moment, Fonseca trusts Okafor and Chukwueze more and they will get the nod tonight.

Leao is an enrichment for the Diavolo and that's why the club doesn't want to do without him. In recent days, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has spoken to Rafa almost like an older brother, so the management now wants him to be more active on the pitch and in the defensive phase.

Meanwhile, Fonseca has other selection issues to deal with. Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders are suspended, while Matteo Gabbia, Tammy Abraham and Luka Jovic are injured.