Leão Nears Summer Exit from Milan
AC Milan, under the leadership of Rafael Leão, is going through a difficult and worrying period under coach Massimiliano Allegri, following a crushing 3-0 defeat against Udinese at the San Siro stadium. This loss reflects a significant recent decline in the team's performance and raises serious questions about the future of some of its prominent stars.
In just two months, Milan's ambitions have shifted from competing for the Serie A title with rivals Inter Milan to a fierce battle for a top-four finish to secure a spot in the Champions League, which is crucial for the club's sporting and financial project.
The team's attacking statistics have dropped alarmingly, with forwards scoring only two goals in the last nine matches, both by Rafael Leão. Despite winning the derby against Inter during this period, the team suffered disappointing losses against Parma, Lazio, and most recently Udinese. Even the tactical change Allegri implemented, switching from a 3-5-2 formation to a 4-3-3, has not yielded the desired results, and the team is struggling severely to create chances and convert them into goals.
Leão Faces Boos
The decline in the performance of Portuguese star Rafael Leão has been noticeable to everyone, affected by some physical issues and his tactical deployment as a pure striker. The player appeared restricted on the field, losing much of his usual pace and runs. His body language in recent matches has also frustrated the fans.
This dip in form led AC Milan fans to clearly boo him when he was substituted in the Udinese match. This opens the door for speculation, as indicated by some Italian newspapers, about the possibility of his departure next summer as an option that might be best for everyone if the situation continues.
Bulišić's Long Goal Drought
The attacking crisis is not limited to Leão alone; American star Christian Pulisic is also experiencing one of the longest goal droughts of his career.
After a strong start to the season where he scored eight league goals, Pulisic has completely disappeared from the score sheet in 2026. The last time he found the back of the net was in late December of last year, with his goal drought now exceeding 100 days, reflecting the generally poor state of the team's attack.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, coach Massimiliano Allegri acknowledged the problem, emphasizing the need to restore order and calmness on the field.
Allegri stated that the team lacked organization and was too rushed in its attempts to score, pointing out that Milan's true strength had always been in both defensive and offensive solidity. The coach expressed confidence in the quality of his current forwards, asserting that the problem lies in their current technical form rather than their capabilities, and stressed the importance of playing with greater collective effort and simplifying things to overcome this phase.
Uncertain Future and Expected Summer Changes
As the season draws to a close, AC Milan's management will have to make decisive decisions to reorganize the team and return to strong contention.
The club is not expected to exercise the purchase option for striker Niclas Füllkrug, valued at 5 million euros, meaning he will return to England. Meanwhile, Santiago Giménez needs to prove his worth after returning from injury and justify the amount paid for him. Christopher Nkunku is also considering Turkish offers that have increased since January.
As for the duo Leão and Pulisic, the renewal of their contracts has become uncertain after they were considered untouchable elements of the team. All these factors confirm, according to reports, that signing a new center-forward will be a top priority for AC Milan's management in the upcoming summer transfer window.
