COACH BOND CONFIRMED: ALLEGRI IS LIKE A FATHER TO RAFAEL LEAO BEFORE THE DERBY
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri discusses his "fatherly" relationship with Rafael Leao and the importance of the Derby della Madonnina against Inter. A win could see Milan top the Serie A table.
The main coach of AC Milan, Massimiliano Allegri, has discussed his connection with Rafael Leao, along with what he anticipates from the important match.
The first Milan match of the season is coming up, with the game starting at 20:45 CET, and it’s a great chance for Allegri and his team to prove what they can do. The 2-2 tie with Parma before the break was not a good outcome to go into the international games with, so a good response is needed. Allegri emphasised the importance of teamwork and strategy in the upcoming fixture, stating that every player must be at their best to secure a victory. He also noted that the support from the fans will be crucial in creating a strong atmosphere to motivate the team on the pitch.
Inter goes into the match with two more points in the standings, meaning they can increase their lead to five points with a victory. Or, the Rossoneri could pass their rivals and make the top of the league even closer, while also keeping up a recent positive trend in the match.
Allegri had a talk with DAZN that was shown the night before the match, and he gave more thoughts on the game after his press meeting. His words are from MilanNews.
Thinking about it, will the match leave you feeling good or bad?
“The outcome usually makes you feel good for the next few days. If the result is not good, it makes you feel a little sad, a little hurt, but we still have many other games to play. So we have to look at what happens tomorrow to try to get better.”
Leao said you were like a father to him; is that true?
“I was happy with what Rafa said, but I think my team and I need to be there to help the players and try to make them better physically, technically, and mentally. This is very important. I think Rafa has improved because he knows that a striker is judged by the goals he scores.”
Can Leao score 20 goals?
“Right now, he has four. Let’s hope he keeps going, then we’ll see (laughs).”
Rabiot will also be back – How much of an impact could he have? His return could be significant, as he brings not only skill but also experience to the midfield. Having him back in the squad will undoubtedly bolster our chances of success in the coming matches.
“He’s an important player. Milan has many of them, mixed with players who don’t have as much experience. But we’re trying to get some good results so we can reach our main goal, which is to get back into the Champions League.”
Rabiot said he hoped to win it with a goal in the 90th minute. Could that happen?
“The 90th minute is always better because it would be easier for you. You would struggle for 90 minutes, then you wouldn’t struggle as much at the end. No, we need to play well because Inter is very strong.”
“It’s not stressful. When you work at a big team like Milan, it’s normal to have a goal, which is to get back into the Champions League, because they need to play in the Champions League, which is their home, where they’ve won seven times.
You should also not hold back but instead aim high, and most importantly, try to get the greatest outcomes. If the greatest outcome is ending up in the first four spots, it shows that we did a good job getting there. If it means ending up higher, it means we have earned it. Also, the standings are honest: in the long run, the best team comes out on top.
How are you trying to help Gimenez and Nkunku feel more sure of themselves again?
Gimenez is still unable to play because of a problem with his ankle. Nkunku played very well against Roma; he had a harder time against Parma, but he is a very skilled player and will get better with time.
What is your favourite memory from the derby?
For sure, it’s the first one since that’s the one that we were able to win. After that, sadly, I was not able to win the last four games (laughs).
RADJA NAINGGOLAN SLAMS NAPOLI’S SCOTT MCTOMINAY AS "JUST AVERAGE" IN TV RANT
Radja Nainggolan has sparked controversy by calling Napoli's Scudetto winner Scott McTominay "average" in a scathing TV interview.
Scott McTominay’s journey from Manchester United to Napoli has been wild. He’s helped the club win a Scudetto, snagged a Ballon d’Or nomination, and his goal tally is impressive. But not everyone’s sold on him. Even with all those honours, one Serie A legend isn’t convinced. Radja Nainggolan slammed him as just “an average player".
After McTominay’s £26 million jump from Old Trafford in 2024, he took off. He won the Serie A MVP, clinched Napoli’s fourth Scudetto with a spectacular overhead goal against Cagliari, and made a big mark in Italy. Still, Nainggolan, never shy with an opinion, tore into him during a TV interview. Despite McTominay racking up 26 goals in 76 games and getting a Ballon d’Or nod, Nainggolan didn’t hold back. “I don’t like him,” he said on Sky Calcio Unplugged. “He gets his goals, 12, 13, 14 a season, but his general play? He doesn’t have the technique to move between the lines. He’s just average.”
And he wasn’t content to leave it at that. Nainggolan compared himself to today’s names, arguing he was better than both McTominay and Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu at his best, though he admitted Nicolo Barella sits above him. “At my peak, I was better than McTominay and Calhanoglu, but Barella is on another level,” Nainggolan said. “He doesn’t always score a lot, but when he does, it matters, and you always feel his presence on the pitch. I like De Bruyne, too; he sees things nobody else does. He’s above me, and Modric...he’s always been world-class.”
Of course, Nainggolan’s take doesn’t really jibe with life in Naples. McTominay has become something of a hero there; his face is on murals around the city, the fans have dubbed him ‘McFratm’ (McBrother), and he helped Napoli win the Supercoppa Italiana in December 2025. Even if Inter seems ready to grab the Serie A crown back, McTominay’s reputation hasn’t dipped. His knack for scoring from midfield has been crucial for Conte’s side.
Nainggolan also touched on Belgium’s so-called “Golden Generation” and why they didn’t deliver a major trophy, despite stars like Lukaku, Hazard, and De Bruyne. He knows the team well, having made 30 appearances before retiring after he got left out of the 2018 World Cup squad. “We had Lukaku, Hazard, De Bruyne, and Courtois. Too many superstars, too many egos,” Nainggolan said. “Everyone wanted to be the star, to be the most important guy, and that just doesn’t work.” His take pretty much confirms what fans suspected: there was plenty of talent, but not enough unity.
MANCHESTER UNITED AND CHELSEA ENTER RACE FOR DISCOUNTED €50M-RATED RAFAEL LEãO
Discover why Rafael Leão’s value has plummeted at AC Milan and which Premier League clubs are leading the race to sign him.
Just a year ago, everyone was buzzing about Rafael Leao and his rumoured €120 million move to Chelsea. Fast forward to this summer’s transfer window, and it looks like AC Milan’s ready to let him go for nowhere near that amount. Manchester United, along with a few others, are circling, hoping to get him for much less.
Last week, Gazzetta dello Sport broke the news: Milan now values Leao at just €50 million. That’s a wild drop, especially since six months ago they slapped a €100 million price tag on him.
So what happened? Why did his value tank so quickly?
Perception plays a big part. Leao’s estimated transfer value hasn’t actually changed that much. FootballTransfers’ algorithm had him pegged at €72.5 million last July, and now he’s at €70.7 million. But Milan’s own estimate? That’s fallen off a cliff.
Last summer, Milan wanted €50 million above the algorithm’s number. Now, they’re ready to accept an offer that’s €20 million below it.
Leao once had everything going for him in Milan. In the 2021/22 season, he carried them to the Scudetto, racking up 11 goals and 10 assists. Clubs were fighting over him, and in 2023, Milan rewarded him with a hefty €7 million salary and a massive €175 million release clause. That’s when top European clubs started sniffing around for a record-breaking deal.
But the new contract didn’t spark another big season for Leao. In his next campaign, he scored 15 goals and managed 14 assists, but fans started to turn, especially after two weak outings against Roma in the Europa League.
Things haven’t improved since. Early in the 2024/25 season, Milan benched him for disciplinary reasons, and he seemed pretty unfazed, something that sparked more criticism. He’s had some public clashes with head coach Max Allegri, too. Despite still being Milan’s top scorer, he hasn’t scored in two months. And the fans? They’ve booed him at home games, most recently against Juventus and earlier against Udinese.
Now, Milan looks ready to move on. Leao’s raw talent is still obvious, but at San Siro, the excitement has faded. SciSports, the data analytics folks, show his performance is in “significant decline” based on their SciSkill rating. Still, they think he can bounce back.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan plans to hold off until the World Cup, hoping Leao puts on a big show for Portugal and builds hype again.
He’s still got admirers. Arsenal’s been keeping tabs on him, FootballTransfers said back in February. Chelsea, Liverpool, and United are all in the market for a left-sided attacker and would jump at the chance to grab a rejuvenated Leao.
Sure, the €120 million rumours are a thing of the past. But the old Leão, the top-class player, is still in there somewhere. He just needs the right club, coach, and a fresh start.
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