Rafael Leao has missed AC Milan’s final training session in Riyadh ahead of Thursday’s Supercoppa Italiana semi-final against Napoli.
The Portuguese winger continues recovering from a muscle injury sustained during Milan’s match against Torino earlier this month.
Leao arrived at the Princess Noura training facility before his teammates. He completed only a personalized workout away from the main squad. The number 10 has been sidelined since suffering the muscle problem in December.
Head coach Massimiliano Allegri remains cautious over Leao’s availability for the 8 PM CET clash. While the winger’s chances of featuring have decreased significantly, they have not been completely ruled out. A final decision will be made following further assessment.
According to MilanNews.it, Milan has planned a special personalized training session for Leao on Thursday morning.
The session will evaluate his condition and determine whether he can be included on the bench for the evening fixture. This represents the last opportunity to assess his readiness before kickoff.
Medical tests conducted on Leao have ruled out any structural damage. However, the muscle inflammation has proven slower to resolve than initially anticipated.
The injury occurred during Milan’s Serie A fixture against Torino and has prevented his return to full training.
Allegri adopted a cautious approach during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. The Milan boss acknowledged that Leao had not trained with the full squad for several days.
He confirmed that evaluation would continue before a final decision was made.
Milan faces additional injury concerns heading into the semi-final against Antonio Conte’s Napoli. Defender Matteo Gabbia has been ruled out after sustaining a knock during training.
The centre-back is expected to miss several days and is targeted to return for Milan’s next Serie A fixture on January 28.
Leao’s absence would represent a significant blow to Milan’s attacking options. The Portuguese international is among the club’s key creative forces this season.
His unavailability forces Allegri to reorganise his attacking lineup for the high-stakes encounter.
The Supercoppa Italiana semi-final represents a crucial fixture for Milan as they pursue silverware this season. Napoli, managed by former Chelsea and Inter boss Antonio Conte, will provide formidable opposition in Saudi Arabia.
A decision on Leao’s participation is expected following Thursday morning’s evaluation session in Riyadh.
