Heading into the season, there were initial uncertainties about Massimiliano Allegri’s ability to maximize Rafael Leao’s potential, but substantial evidence is beginning to surface. With recent performances highlighting Leao’s growing prowess, particularly his two goals against Fiorentina on October 19 and another against Pisa, it appears that Allegri is successfully nurturing the forward’s talents. As the team prepares to face Atalanta, Leao aims to achieve the milestone of scoring in three consecutive league matches for the first time since April 2024.
The foundation for their collaboration began early in the season. Allegri and Leao developed a strong connection during summer preparations, leading to a mutual respect for their respective roles. Allegri quickly entrusted Leao with significant responsibility, and the Portuguese player responded by adhering closely to the coach’s directives. This mutual understanding became increasingly apparent, particularly with Allegri’s consistent deployment of Leao as a striker during friendly matches, which yielded promising results.
Leao’s scoring opportunities were underscored by a standout performance in the Coppa Italia match against Bari in mid-August. However, a subsequent injury sidelined him for over a month, temporarily hindering his momentum. Now, as Allegri continues to refine Leao’s skills, the challenge lies in transforming him from a talented winger, previously nurtured by Stefano Pioli into a Serie A MVP, to a prolific striker capable of thriving on the big stage.
Historically, Leao’s best goal tally was 16 during the 2022-23 season, with 15 of those in league play. Unfortunately, in the last two seasons, he has struggled to surpass the ten-goal mark, netting nine in 2023-24 and eight in 2024-25, which is considerably below what is expected from a striker of his caliber. Allegri is accustomed to teams with forwards who consistently score at least 20 goals per season— a benchmark that is critical for securing the Serie A title.
Over the past decade, successful teams in the Scudetto race have always had key contributors among their centre-forwards. Notably, only twice has a champion team not benefited from a significant strike production, emphasizing the need for reliable scoring firepower.
Allegri has a history of nurturing prolific scorers during his tenure at Juventus, cultivating talents like Tevez, Dybala, Higuain, and Ronaldo, all of whom achieved significant goal tallies under his guidance. In a recent press conference, Allegri expressed confidence in Leao’s ability to reach the 15-20 goal range this season. He noted, “Leao’s fitness is improving, and he’s gaining confidence in his abilities as a striker.” However, he emphasized the importance of increasing Leao’s clinical execution in the box, indicating that he must convert more of the goal-scoring opportunities he is given.
As both Leao and Allegri continue to develop their synergy on the pitch, the upcoming matches will be pivotal in determining the forward’s ability to fulfill the expectations set forth by his coach and the fans alike. With improvement on the horizon, Leao’s transformative journey under Allegri could lead to exciting prospects for both the player and the team this season.