JUST IN: Rafael Leao is the LEADING candidate to win the Serie A “MVP Awards.
Leao and Pulisic are nominated for the Serie A “MVP Awards,” but the categories are contentious.
In Serie A’s end-of-season showcase, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao of AC Milan have both received award nominations; nevertheless, their announcements have generated controversy.
Leao has been nominated following a campaign in which he has amassed eight goals and ten assists in 33 league games. When all competitions are taken into account, his total record rises to 14 goals and 14 assists in 46 games. He is still without a doubt one of the best wingers in the world and one of the top players in Serie A, but he scored 15 goals in the league the previous season.
In the meantime, Pulisic, who joined the red and black from Chelsea last summer, has had a fantastic first season. In 49 appearances, he has 15 goals and 10 assists overall, including 12 goals and 8 assists in Serie A. Milan, who had long required an upgrade on the right wing, made a wise move when they paid the Blurs €20 million for Pulisic. When Junior Messias and Alexis Saelemaekers filled that role in the past, they did not perform at the same caliber despite their best efforts.
The categories, however, are what have generated controversy over the nominations. Despite being a winger, Leao has been nominated for best striker, and Pulisic, despite playing on the other flank from Leao, has been nominated for best midfielder. These team of the year awards are usually subject to some artistic license, but it’s reasonable to state that there is some ambiguity surrounding the classification.
