The one time Rafael Leao did get into full stride it was terrifying. His 6ft 2in frame shouldn't be able to move at such speed or with the deftness to slide a football between his feet. The total silencing hush that came over Stamford Bridge when he got the ball was evidence of the threat he poses.
Rarely is such a player seen for the first time with such anticipation. Leao's game has elevated to a new plane of performance, his showdown at SW6 was meant to be the proof that it wasn't just a run of form or playing in Serie A. Albeit his performance was quiet, that one moment, right before half-time, where he darted into a gap between Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah that didn't exist, showed what all the fuss was about.
The 23-year-old is perhaps only equivalent of Allan Saint-Maximin from the Premier League. His rogue dribbling, rapid touches and sensory movements are too quick to perceive. Leao has an end to his skill though in a supply that the Frenchman doesn't, and that's what has given him a £127m release clause.
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Had it been any other summer, a window in which Chelsea didn't have to majorly operate on gaping holes throughout their threadbare and clunky squad, and AC Milan's resolve to that clause might have been tested more sternly. 11 goals and 10 assists hardly looks like enough to warrant such a hefty fee, but watching Leao's feet move before anyone in the stadium realised he had the ball was a cerebral moment that explained a lot.
Considering Leao would be thrusted into a Chelsea team that has become stagnant and dim to watch, no-longer entertaining and all too predictable, just the thought of him in royal blue was better than some of Chelsea's attacking displays this season.
Graham Potter is changing that, to his credit. After all, it was his set-up that totally nullified Leao in a creative sense at Stamford Bridge and has seen the Blues register back-to-back 3-0 wins. You can't escape the feeling that Potter would love to add a player of Leao's talent to his armoury though. With four goals and four assists in eight league games, he's only getting better.
When asked about the player ahead of Chelsea's return fixture, Potter went a bit further than his decisive 'no comment' attitude he took before the home game, saying: "The player you mentioned is part of that team. You can see his quality and what he brings. He's part of a strong team, a strong club and a strong set-up, and we respect that."
A big part of Potter's plan to win at San Siro and truly turn around Chelsea's fortunes in the group will once again be to stop Leao. With two games in quick succession against him it has been labelled as somewhat of an audition for the winger.
Former Chelsea fullback Glenn Johnson doesn't think that Todd Boehly would have been put off by his lack of impact on the home game though, and can imagine Chelsea going back in for the player. “Stamford Bridge is not an easy place to go and play but he was one of the standout players for Milan," Johnson told Bettingodds.com.
"Nobody’s cheap these days, but if you can get a player like him for a sensible transfer fee, then he’d suit Graham Potter’s team down to a tee.”
What a sensible fee is, nobody knows. But considering the quality of Leao, his upward trajectory in the past five seasons and the desire to add in another exciting attacker to Chelsea, it would be brave to bet against the club making a move for him, even if it did cost £127m.
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