Donadoni: 'I'd grab Leao by the dreadlocks' to push him harder

Milan legend Roberto Donadoni reveals how he would’ve dealt with Rafael Leao in the dressing room. ‘I’d grab him by the dreadlocks every now and then.’

The winger is looking to leave the club this summer, insisting that he is ready to move beyond the Rossoneri, but in turn the fans are frustrated with his inconsistent performances.

COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 15: Mike Maignan of AC Milan interacts with Rafael Leao during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AC Milan at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on January 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) That is also why the expected big offers have not flooded in this summer , as only Turkish teams like Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas have made genuine approaches, and none are prepared to pay the €50m plus add-ons asking price.

MilanNews turned to club legend Donadoni to ask how he would’ve dealt with a teammate like Rafael Leao, and the response was not positive.

Donadoni lashes out at Leao CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 01: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks dejected during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AC Milan at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 01, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images) “You have to really be inside a situation to understand it, but from what we can see on the outside, Leao is often talked about for what he doesn’t do rather than what he does,” replied Donadoni.

“He is a player who certainly has talent and quality above average, but consistency is a fundamental component, and he really is deficient in that.

“I hope that all these situations finally make him aware of that, and that he can become the champion that we occasionally glimpse when he does those extraordinary things.

“If I was Leao’s teammate, I’d grab him by the dreadlocks every now and then, make him understand that it’s time he tries to do something different too.”

New coach Ruben Amorim seems perhaps more suited to Leao than predecessor Max Allegri, but does the 3-4-2-1 formation fit his characteristics?

“I was a Milan player, there were players who were particularly good in certain roles, whereas I tended to adapt where I was needed, on the right, left, central,” replied Donadoni.

“If you have someone better than you in that role, you struggle to get a chance otherwise. So you’ve got to work hard and try to make yourself as versatile as possible, to help yourself and the team.

“If we’re here discussing whether Milan need to change their system to better suit Leao, then we’ve lost already.”