Former Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli is demanding better from AC Milan striker Rafael Leao.

Barzagli says the excuses for Leao are wearing thin.

He said on DAZN: "I don't accept that, for all football fans, anyone who plays in any division, I don't accept that for such a player we continue to say: 'Well, but if he smiles, if he's well...'.

"A player like that must improve every year, he must be decisive, he must make the difference. If you have those qualities there, the 'could' no longer exists. I put myself there, I improve, I become decisive, and I become number one, not by talking. I do it because I have the possibilities."

Barzagli continued: "There's no such thing as seeing talented players playing and... 'yes, I could do more but I enjoy it'. It doesn't exist, I train.

"Leao this year, beyond the small difficulties that Milan had, even if he was out for a month, must show something that is different from the others, because he is. And not only in qualities, also in leadership, like everything. Growing as a player, because he's on another level. The blast and the assist are no longer enough, if you want to become number one it's no longer enough.

"I've seen many of them and if I hear 'eh but him', he what? If you don't do it and you don't have the head to do it, you stay like that."