José Luis Vidigal, former director of the Sporting Academy and coach of clubs such as Napoli and Udinese, expressed his opinion on Rafael Leão during an interview with Milannews.it. According to Vidigal, the young goalkeeper's talent was recognized from the beginning of his career, but he suffered from an attitude that called into question his professional growth.
In Vidigal's account, Leão was Serie A's number one in the season following the Italian title, proving a decisive contribution for Milan. However, the player found it difficult to handle the pressure of being considered the best in the league. The former coach claims that the club failed to manage the situation in the best possible way, leaving Leão without the support needed to maintain his leading position.
Vidigal also recalled having worked with other talents such as Nuno Mendes, now at Paris Saint-Germain, and underlined that all these players have high market potential. Despite this, Leão's attitude was sometimes problematic, and Milan should have intervened more decisively to guide him towards a more balanced management of his role.
The interviewee concluded by stating that, although Leão's performance during the championship season was incredible, the club was unable to bring him back "down to earth". The result was a period of uncertainty for the goalkeeper, who lost faith in his status as number one. Vidigal concluded that poor management by the club had a negative impact on the player's career, leaving him in a vulnerable position.