‘Like peak Thierry Henry’ – Rafael Leao shows Chelsea what they’re missing

Robin Bairner

• 3 Sept 2022 20:28 BST
• 4 min read

Rafael Leao put on a show in the Milan derby, scoring twice for AC Milan in a 3-2 win over Inter, as he showed why Chelsea were so eager to sign him before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Blues launched three bids for the Portugal international forward this summer but each was knocked back.

FootballTransfers understands that Thomas Tuchel’s side were even willing to go as high as €100 million, including bonuses, but they were unable to get Milan to budge on their position that the 23-year-old would only depart for his release clause. This has been set at €150m.

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Leao was the difference between the sides as he scored twice. The first goal arrived in the 28th minute, when he peeled off his marker to take up space on the left side of the penalty box. He received a pass from Sandro Tonali, which he let slip across his body before delivering an emphatic finish from a tight angle.

His second was even better. It came from a similar area of the field, yet he jinked past a couple of defenders to find room to shoot inside the box. From an even more acute angle, he once more picked out the corner of the net.

In between time, he set up Olivier Giroud to strike.

He finished the match with a series of impressive numbers, including five of six long balls completed, three of four crosses completed and three shots on target.

’Like peak Henry’

Leao’s display won widespread acclaim.

“Rafael Leao playing like peak Thierry Henry today. Unstoppable even when you know what he’s going to do and now finding those bottom far corners,” FootballTransfers’ Carlo Garganese commented.

Club-mate Gerard Deulofeu added: “We love this guy!”

Milan may have felt protected by the player’s €150m release clause in the summer, but keep this up and clubs will be circling come January once again.