Rafael Leao (Galatasaray) heads to the Barça match with confidence

Rafael Leao, of Galatasaray, is arriving with good feelings for the Barça clash this Tuesday despite a tough start: he has zero goals and zero assists in five matches. The Portuguese winger joined this summer for 38 million and landed in Turkey on August 30, when the league was already underway.

His arrival came with questions after his AC Milan numbers—10 goals and 3 assists, his worst since 2020/21. A small thigh injury also disrupted him: he missed the trip to Göztepe and the opening league rounds, before getting into rhythm against Kasımpasa. In that game he played 67 minutes, produced five completed take-ons, delivered two key passes and managed two shots on target.

“...I spoke with the club about the possibility of trying a new experience, but I don’t know what will happen,” Leao said about his situation after those talks. Mundo Deportivo also points out that Barça checked his availability back in August 2024 as an immediate ‘Plan B’, but it didn’t happen due to LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play.