AC Milan dealt Rafael Leao blow as star attacker's injury leaves Serie A side thin up front amid desperate search for new striker

Leao suffered a right calf injury during the Coppa Italia clash against Bari on August 17, forcing him off in the first half. The Portuguese forward missed the season opener against Cremonese and has now also been ruled out of the Rossoneri’s trip to Lecce on Friday. Although Leao has resumed light training, he has not participated in full sessions with Allegri’s squad, meaning he remains unavailable for competitive action.

The 26-year-old's absence is a significant blow for Milan, who were already left embarrassed in the 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Cremonese. Allegri’s side lack depth in attack, with Santiago Gimenez the only reliable centre-forward at his disposal until reinforcements arrive. The plan is to ease Leao back cautiously, avoiding setbacks, with mid-September’s Bologna clash pencilled in for his return. The Rossoneri’s struggles underline their desperate need for another striker before the transfer window closes.

Without Leao, Allegri will once again turn to Gimenez to lead the line, supported by Christian Pulisic in attack. The Mexican striker, however, underperformed in Milan’s opener and now faces added pressure to deliver against Lecce. The club are also actively pushing to sign a forward before the deadline, with targets like Rasmus Hojlund and Conrad Harder being assessed to prevent the team from being overly reliant on Leao’s creativity and pace.

The Milan winger is expected to return after the international break, with the September 14 clash against Bologna circled as his comeback fixture. Until then, the Rossoneri must cope without their talisman, relying on Gimenez and hoping the transfer market provides solutions. A poor result at Lecce could intensify pressure on Allegri and further highlight Milan’s urgent need for attacking reinforcements.

Additonal reporting by Stefano Silvestri