Fonseca reveals Camarda will start for Milan, hits back at Spain coach, jokes on benching Leao | OneFootball

Milan coach Paulo Fonseca reveals Francesco Camarda will start against Cagliari tomorrow and insists Alvaro Morata can’t play with Spain’s national team during the international break.

Milan striker Camarda, 16, will start in a Serie A game against Cagliari on Saturday, Fonseca said at a pre-match press conference on the eve of the match on Friday.

Alvaro Motata was taken to the hospital on Thursday after suffering a head injury during a training session, so he won’t be eligible against the Sardinians in the upcoming league fixture.

“It was a strange situation. He clashed with Pavlovic during an exercise,” explained Fonseca.

“I never thought it would be a problem like this, but he’s unavailable. He’s fine, but he’s not ready to play tomorrow.”

Surprisingly, Fonseca revealed who would replace the Spaniard.

“I can say it because you’ll know everything in 30 minutes anyway, tomorrow Camarda will start.

“It’s not surprising to me because he’s a lad who works every day with us,” continued the Portuguese coach.

“I think everyone in the club believes in him. He trains well and proves to have quality. Right now, Morata has a special role. He’s not always a striker; he’s often a link-up player, and I think Camarda is more ready than Abraham for this role. I also have to say that Abraham is not fully fit. I have complete trust in Camarda. He’s a young player, but he’s mature enough.

“Most importantly, he has no fear. He arrives here and looks like a 25-26-year player with courage and aggressivity. He helps the team defensively, and I’ve never had a doubt about who would replace Morata.”

Fonseca reveals Camarda will start for Milan, hits back at Spain coach, jokes on benching Leao

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 22: Alvaro Morata of AC Milan is replaced by Francesco Camarda during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between AC Milan and Club Brugge KV at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Fonseca’s decision doesn’t mean Luka Jovic is no longer part of his plans.

“He’s part of the project, but Luka is not fit. He has a problem that keeps troubling him. He has trained these days but is in pain and won’t be available.”

During the press conference, Fonseca learned that Spain coach Luis De La Fuente wanted to rely on Morata for one of the following two international matches.

“I don’t know what he said. There is a protocol that says a player has to stop after a contusion,” he insisted,

“I don’t know how he [De La Fuente] can say he [Morata] could play the first or the second game. To me, that’s strange. The indication I have is that the player can do nothing for 10 days. It’s the protocol. It’s not an option for us; I think it’s mandatory.”

Rafael Leao was decisive in a 3-1 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday and Fonseca said his compatriot would start against Cagliari as well.

“Yes, he will start from minute one. He put in a good performance against Madrid.

“I think he can do even more and make better decisions, but he played a good game,” Fonseca added,

“We must all understand that tomorrow’s game will be entirely different for Rafa with man-marking and without the space he had in Madrid. It will be a different game, but I expect him to be on the same level.

“Rafa has had many chances in the final 30 meters, perhaps nine or ten. I think that he can improve on the last decision, and, like everyone, he must improve defensively. We must keep working on him to improve in these situations, which are essential for him and mostly the team.”

What’s his relationship with the Portuguese winger?

“It’s good, and it’s always been good,” insisted Fonseca.

“Obviously, I can’t say everything, but we coaches try to adopt different strategies. I used one with Rafa; perhaps it wasn’t the best one. Then I tried another one, and it seems to have produced some effects. I’ve never had problems with Rafa. He accepted all decisions and reacted as I expected. To me, there are no problems. I expect Rafa to continue like this.”

Leao started in Madrid but had been benched in the previous three Serie A fixtures, so Fonseca smiled and joked: “Perhaps we can see Rafa more on the bench; if this is the solution, let’s see.”