Massimiliano Allegri must be pulling his hair out. Rafael Leão’s injury has been a real headache for the coach. The Portuguese forward picked it up in the season’s very first official match. That was way back on August 17, during an Italian Cup game against Bari. Milan officials had hoped Leão would return after the recent international break. But no such luck.
He will miss Sunday’s big clash with Bologna. That game is a rematch of last season’s Cup final, so it is a significant one. Leão still has ongoing calf issues. Yesterday, he trained separately from the main squad. He focused on treatments and personalized exercises. The medical team is playing it safe, which makes sense. They do not want to risk a bigger problem. The new target for his return is the away game against Udinese on September 20.
Fresh Faces on the Horizon
But there is some potential good news for the team. New signing Christopher Nkunku might make his debut this Sunday. The French international joined from Chelsea at the end of August. That deal cost Milan €37 million. He arrived with some physical problems, just like Leão. However, Nkunku is expected to be fit enough to come off the bench. His presence could certainly give the team a much-needed lift.
Modric Defies Time
Another player who should definitely feature is Luka Modric. This match will be his first since hitting a big milestone. The Croatian midfielder celebrated his 40th birthday on Tuesday. He wasted no time in heading to social media. His message was simple and classic: “Age is just a number!” Modric continues to prove that wisdom on the field.