Rafael Leao sends cryptic message after Milan fans’ boos, Cancelo reacts
Milan star Rafael Leao sent a cryptic message on social media after receiving boos from Milan fans in a 3-3 draw against Genoa on Sunday and Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo appeared to defend his compatriot.
Leao was booed by several Milan supporters on Sunday during a 3-3 draw against Genoa at San Siro. It happened at minute 67 when the 24-year-old was subbed off. Leao was so disappointed that he didn’t even go on the bench but decided to go straight inside the tunnel instead.
Just a few hours after the match, Leao appeared to reply to Milan fans with a social media post. The Portugal international shared a picture taken during the warmup, where he keeps the ball on his face.
Rafael Leao sends cryptic message after Milan fans’ boos, Cancelo reacts
“Thank you for existing; there are people who do not know the meaning,” Leao wrote in Portuguese. “It’s much more than a passion it’s a religion‼️”
Leao’s post received several comments and over 140,000 likes in just a few hours and his compatriot Cancelo was among those commenting on the post: “They don’t know brother,” wrote the ex-Inter and Juventus defender.
Leao had already been booed by Milan supporters during a 1-0 loss against Roma in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals in April.
The Portuguese star has 13 goals and 13 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions this term.
AC Milan were given the silent treatment by thousands of frustrated supporters during Sunday’s thrilling 3-3 home draw with Genoa as their disappointing Serie A season crawls to its conclusion.
Fans unfurled banners demanding improvements to the team, while the hardcore ultras stayed silent in protest throughout a match which ended all square after Malick Thiaw’s 87th-minute own goal handed mid-table Genoa a point.
The entire Curva Sud section of the San Siro, which is where the ultras stand and holds thousands of supporters, missed Thiaw’s unfortunate error as it emptied shortly after Olivier Giroud fired Milan 3-2 ahead in the 75th minute.
Left behind was a banner which simply read “the sound of silence”.
The protest dampened the atmosphere for what was effectively a dead rubber, with second-placed Milan already guaranteed Champions League football and promoted Genoa safe from relegation.
Fan discontent stems from the 18 points which separate Milan from champions and local rivals Inter Milan, who secured their 20th league title by winning their local derby a fortnight ago.
That, and being dumped out of the Europa League by fellow Italians Roma, angered supporters and means Stefano Pioli, the man who guided Milan to the 2022 Serie A title, will be dismissed at the end of the season after nearly five years at the helm.
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