Rafael Leao brands outspoken pundit Antonio Cassano a 'clown' as ex-Real Madrid striker says Marcus Rashford & Phil Foden are better than AC Milan star

The Portugal international has become a talismanic presence at AC Milan, with the 24-year-old considered to be so important to that cause that he was – after generating plenty of transfer talk – recently tied to a new contract through to 2028.

Leao has been overshadowed by club colleague Christian Pulisic this season – as the USMNT star continues to flourish in Italy – but has still registered six goals and nine assists in 27 Serie A appearances. His latest strike came in a 3-0 victory over Lecce, but even that was not enough to impress former Milan, Roma and Real Madrid forward Cassano.

Ex-Italy international Cassano told Domenica Sportiva: “Leao thinks he is a genius and some even agree with him. I just consider him a good player and I have not changed my mind on that. For five-and-a-half months he didn’t score in a poor league like Serie A. Years ago, he would’ve struggled to play in the sixth or seventh team in Serie A.”

He added: “If I go and see Rashford as a winger last year he scores more than 25 goals and plays in a wonderful championship. [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia arrives and has a wonderful championship. Foden is a year younger and this year he has already scored 21 goals and 10 assists, they are top players. In Italy, the championship is not good and the problem is that he thinks he is a phenomenon and there is a lot of people who believe in it. He's a good player and has great physical strength, stop. So Kaka, Rui Costa, Vinicius? What are we talking about? We're talking about a normal player who has physical strength.”

Leao has become aware of Cassano’s comments, but is paying little attention to them. Rather than allow the opinion of others to get him down, or become embroiled in a war of words, the Portuguese forward has merely posted a series of clown emojis alongside the video of Cassano in rant mode.

Leao has been linked with a move away from Milan in the recent past, with Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United among those to have been credited with interest. He has, however, committed his immediate future to the Rossoneri and will continue to turn a deaf ear to any detractors.