Leao benched again: Italian media react after Conceiçao’s choice in Napoli vs Milan | OneFootball

Sergio Conceiçao’s decision to initially keep Rafael Leao on the bench against Napoli has sparked heavy criticism following the Rossoneri’s 2-1 defeat, with Italian media arguing that the Portuguese star was his side’s most dangerous player.

Milan’s loss at the Stadio Diego Maradona left them ninth in Serie A, nine points behind fourth-placed Bologna, further jeopardising their chances of Champions League qualification.

epa12000141 Milan�s forward Luka Jovic scores a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs AC Milan at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 30 March 2025. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

Leao on the bench against Napoli: Italian media slam Conceiçao’s decision

While a win or a draw against Antonio Conte’s side would have done little to redeem such a troubled season, La Gazzetta dello Sport slammed Conceiçao’s choice to bench Leao as ‘inexplicable’, noting that his presence in the second half completely transformed the Rossoneri.

Milan registered four shots on goal after the break, having failed to muster a single attempt in the opening 45 minutes.

The pink newspaper rated the forward as Milan’s best player on the pitch and called it ‘nonsensical’ to exclude him in favour of Joao Felix, who delivered yet another lacklustre display.

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 15: Rafael Leao of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

MilanNews observed that Conceição appeared to regret his lineup decision almost immediately, as Leao was asked to start warming up just 20 minutes into the match—by which point Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku had already fired Napoli into a 2-0 lead.

The Portuguese international began a match on the bench for the 11th time this season. While his inconsistency has been a concern, La Gazzetta dello Sport insists that he remains ‘by far’ the most talented player in this Rossoneri squad.