CM: ‘Leao saga remains open’ – how he reacted after being substituted vs. Brugge | OneFootball

AC Milan won 3-1 and Rafael Leao’s name did not appear on the scoresheet nor was his performance terrible, yet his name has ended up in the headlines again.

Calciomercato.com write that the ‘Leao saga remains open more than ever’. After being benched for 90 minutes against Udinese in the last league game, the winger started Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Club Brugge but his evening lasted only an hour.

Paulo Fonseca decided to replace him with Noah Okafor a few minutes after a yellow card for kicking the ball away and the introduction of the Swiss player – together with that of Samuel Chukwueze for Ruben Loftus-Cheek – immediately produced the goal that made it 2-1.

Leao had some joy in the first half with a couple of his typical surging runs down the left side, getting his opponent booked and forcing him to come off at half-time, and yet the end product just wasn’t there in the decisive moments so Fonseca opted for fresh legs and ideas.

When Leao left the pitch his face was obviously not the portrait of satisfaction. Returning to the bench, he sat down next to his team-mates with a silent attitude, without speaking to anyone. At the end of the match, Leao immediately went to the dressing room and didn’t celebrate under the Curva.

Then he posted this message on Instagram: “God knows how my heart is pure.” He remains stuck on one goal for the season, and one goal in his last 20 Champions League games, signifying a complicated moment and an inability to consistently perform at a top level.