Rafael Leao has branded Antonio Cassano a “clown” after seeing the outspoken pundit claim that Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden are better than him.
The Portugal international has become a talismanic presence at AC Milan, with the 24-year-old considered to be so important to that cause that he was – after generating plenty of transfer talk – recently tied to a new contract through to 2028.
Leao has been overshadowed by club colleague Christian Pulisic this season – as the USMNT star continues to flourish in Italy but has still registered six goals and nine assists in 27 Serie A appearances.
However, his latest strike came in a 3-0 victory over Lecce.
But even that was not enough to impress former Milan, Roma and Real Madrid forward Cassano.
Ex-Italy international Cassano told Domenica Sportiva: “Leao thinks he is a genius and some even agree with him.
“I just consider him a good player and I have not changed my mind on that.
“For five-and-a-half months he didn’t score in a poor league like Serie A.
“Years ago, he would’ve struggled to play in the sixth or seventh team in Serie A.”
Physical Strength
He added: “If I go and see Rashford as a winger last year he scores more than 25 goals and plays in a wonderful championship.
“[Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia arrives and has a wonderful championship.
“Foden is a year younger and this year he has already scored 21 goals and 10 assists; they are top players.
“In Italy, the championship is not good and the problem is that he thinks he is a phenomenon and there is a lot of people who believe in it.
“However, He’s a good player and has great physical strength, stop.
“So Kaka, Rui Costa, Vinicius? What are we talking about?
“We’re talking about a normal player who has physical strength”.
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Leao has become aware of Cassano’s comments, but is paying little attention to them.
Rather than allow the opinion of others to get him down, or become embroiled in a war of words, the Portuguese forward has merely posted a series of clown emojis alongside the video of Cassano in rant mode.
