Leao ruled out of Milan’s first Serie A match of 2025-26 after Coppa Italia injury – Football Italia

Tuesday’s reports indicate that star Milan attacker Rafael Leao is set to miss the team’s first Serie A match of the 2025-26 season after picking up an injury in a Coppa Italia victory over Bari on Sunday night. 

Leao out of Milan-Cremonese Serie A opener

Leao opened the scoring in an eventual 2-0 win over Bari in the Coppa Italia first round on Sunday, but was forced off with an injury just over two minutes after his opener hit the back of the net. 

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio on Tuesday, Milan have since learned that the Portugal international has a minor injury to his calf, which is expected to rule him out of the team’s first Serie A match of the season, against newly-promoted Cremonese on Saturday evening. 

Tuesday’s report suggests that the 26-year-old will be monitored on a day-by-day basis approaching the second round of Serie A fixtures, when Milan are set to play away against Lecce. 

That leaves Massimiliano Allegri reliant on Christian Pulisic, and potentially one of Samuel Chukwueze, Alexis Saelemaekers or Yunus Musah as the likely options to provide the width this weekend. 

Noah Okafor is not expected to be involved, as he is on the verge of being sold to Premier League side Leeds United.