Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published on Sunday, 04 January 2026, 15:47 / Updated on Sunday, 04 January 2026 15:48
Rafael Leao is having a prolific season in Serie A and this has been due to the way he has been used by Massimiliano Allegri. The Italian press analyzed this in an extensive article.
The Portuguese has six goals in 11 games in Serie A, while also suffering two muscle injuries. The Portuguese scored every 132 minutes he spent on the pitch, while last season he needed an average of 291 minutes to score in league matches. This is thanks to Massimiliano Allegri, the coach of AC Milan, who moved him from the winger to the top of the attack. It can also be considered a breakdown solution, given that the Milanese suffered in the strikers' compartment: Christoper Nkunku and Santiago Gimenez were “shocked”.
Massimiliano Allegri transformed him: “This is another Rafael Leao”
“This is another Rafael Leao. Not just because Massimiliano Allegri changed his position on the pitch and “kicked” him off the left wing, his preferred position.
The Livorno coach, a Rafa fan since the day he agreed to manage Milan, used him as a striker because he had no reinforcements and Santiago Gimenez was on holiday, but the transformation has become permanent and now, as a number 9, Leao is scoring decisive goals. Such as the ones that brought Milan two 1-0 victories against Lazio and Cagliari, or the double that defeated Fiorentina”, the Italian journalists emphasize in the analysis in Gazetta Dello Sport.
The pink daily also pointed out that although Leao has suffered multiple injuries, he shows seriousness in training and is attentive to sports life.
“He continues to love music and fashion, but he takes great care of his physical training with extra work at home and at Milanello, he doesn't overeat, he studies the moves that Allegri's technical team teaches him and he has created a strong bond, not only with the coach, but also with his new teammates,” Gazzetta points out.
Rafael Leao borrowed from the mentality of Kobe Bryant
On Saturday, Leão also drew attention by posting a photo of Kobe Bryant, accompanied by a famous phrase from the late NBA legend: “The work is done? I don't think so.” The former LA Lakers player said it after a game victory in the 2009 NBA Finals, and Leao shows that he is not satisfied with the numbers presented so far.
“He is not satisfied with the six goals in the championship, with the current first place in Serie A, nor with the fact that Milan have not yet lost away (18 points won, the same as Inter) and have only conceded 5 goals (fewer than all others),” notes the same Italian publication.
