AC Milan forward Rafael Leao is a doubt in terms of his fitness for next Tuesday’s match against Inter Milan.

This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who report that the 23-year-old’s fitness hangs in the balance and that he is a doubt for the second leg of the Champions League semifinal second leg Milan derby.

Leao missed out on the first leg of the Milan derby semifinal tie.

The Portuguese international had picked up an injury to his adductor muscle in the Rossoneri’s win over Lazio in Serie A.

Whilst Leao did everything to return in time for Wednesday’s match, he was not even fit to make the bench.

The forward will also miss out on this weekend’s Serie A match against Spezia.

It always looked likely that Leao’s absence would hurt the Rossoneri, and so it proved.

Milan legend Clarence Seedorf identified the lack of the Portuguese as a key factor in his old side’s 0-2 loss.

Rafael Leao Will Do Everything To Get Back To Fitness To Face Inter In Champions League

Tuttosport report that Leao is pushing as much as is possible to be fit for this Tuesday’s match against Inter.

However, nothing is certain regarding the 23-year-old’s fitness.

Leao had also tried to return for the first leg, but couldn’t even make the bench.

Accordingly, Tuttosport report, it will be very uncertain whether or not the Portuguese will be fit enough to play on Tuesday.

Rossoneri coach Stefano Pioli will see it as a race against time to get Leao back on the pitch.

At the very least, the coach will want his talisman on the bench to start.

With Milan needing to overturn a 0-2 deficit from the first leg, Pioli will be desperate to have his attacking talisman available.

However, Milan will not rush Leao back given the important matches still on the way in the league.