'It would be a shame' - Rafael Leao doesn't have 'the willpower' of Luka Modric as Adrien Rabiot warns winger he's wasting his potential amid underwhelming AC Milan displays

Long stretches of inconsistency interspersed with flashes of brilliance – that has been the story of Leao's career at Milan so far. Now 26, the former Sporting CP and Lille wonderkid can be called a man who should be entering his prime. Somehow, he leaves a lot to be desired with his poor work ethic and lapses in concentration. In his six seasons at San Siro, Leao has managed to hit double digit tally for goals in Serie A just twice. There's a real cause for concern in the offices of Milan, who might be left with no option but to sell their once-promising talent in the next year. Last weekend, the left winger, who is being employed as a centre-forward by head coach Massimiliano Allegri, came off the bench in the second half in the 0-0 draw against Juventus and had two great opportunities to break the deadlock. However, he spurned both of them, much to the disappointment of Allegri, as Milan failed to keep hold of their place at the top of the Serie A table.

Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rabiot said: "I know there's a lot of talk about him. He's a player with potential, but at 26, you're no longer young. At his age, there's no time to waste. Time flies. It would be a shame if he remained just a potentially great player. I hope he realises he has the means to compete with the best. But maybe he doesn't have the willpower or passion of a Luka Modric. Leao needs to ask himself where he wants to go, or if he's content with what he's doing, or if his goal is to become what he can be. It would be a shame for us, because it would be a waste if he didn't reach his full potential and focus 100% on his work. Allegri knows how to get the best out of players. I hope it has a positive impact on him too. Maybe this is the right opportunity for Leao." 

Milan currently sit third in the league table with 13 points from six games, just two points behind defending champions Napoli and Roma. They've also triumphed in their Coppa Italia matches against Bari and Lecce, as Allegri continues to shape Milan in his vision, steadily positioning them as genuine contenders for the Scudetto.

Leao, however, was absent for 45 days before returning to action in the 2-1 win over Napoli at the end of last month. He suffered an injury in his right calf during the win over Bari on August 17, coming off after playing just 17 minutes and scoring a goal. 

With Christian Pulisic indespensible, and Christopher Nkunku (when fit) and Santiago Gimenez proving their worth, Leao will have to step up and reach the next level if he wants to be Milan's decisive star.

With the October international break already underway, Leao will have to wait until October 19 to put on the Milan shirt again in his bid to continue building rhythm after his injury. Allegri's side will host Fiorentina at the San Siro, with the objective to continue piling pressure on Napoli and Roma at the top of the table.