GdS: Fonseca’s ‘treatment is working’ – revitalised Leao takes aim at Juventus | OneFootball

Rafael Leao’s recent resurgence in form points towards one conclusion, while awaiting definitive proof: that Paulo Fonseca got the handling of him right.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) talks about the ‘three clues’ which suggest Leao is back. The first was at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid: a valuable performance and assist. The second was in Cagliari: a brace. The third, with Portugal: a goal to open the scoring versus Poland.

Fonseca’s treatment

Attention is focused on Rafa, because if Fonseca’s method has been effective as it seems, he must also pass one last test: the San Siro one. Leao hasn’t scored since May in a home game, the 3-3 against Salernitana in Stefano Pioli’s farewell game.

After having made the Milan fans rejoice away in Madrid, and having received the applause of the supporters in Cagliari, it’s time to satisfy the home crowd too. The Meazza, for the occasion, will be sold out, and special evenings require special players.

Rafa has his own history with Juventus too. It was a UEFA Youth League match in which he dominated them for Sporting CP, then after he moved to Milan there was the goal he scored in the 4-2 comeback win when games were being played behind closed doors.

With the Rossoneri he is now on 224 appearances and 61 goals, considering all competitions. Despite this record, for the last big game at San Siro he started on the bench against Napoli, when there was talk about his era coming to a close.

A point to prove

Leao is waiting for Saturday with several missions: to help Milan rekindle the Scudetto flame, to repay Fonseca’s renewed trust and to back up the words of the Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez.

A few days ago he said: :He has shown himself to be what he is, one of the best players in the world in exploiting spaces and in one-on-one duels.” Speaking of duels, there will be plenty to watch at the weekend.

Kenan Yildiz has scored the same number of goals as Leao in the league (3), while Francisco Conceiçao is another Juventus talent that is surprising with his start to the season, and Tim Weah has been scoring too.

The new Leao has the same old desire to take the spotlight, but he would happily let it shine on one of his team-mates like Tijjani Reijnders against Real.