Former Leeds United starlet shows his huge potential with heroic AC Milan display

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Marking his debut for a new club against the seven-time European Champions, the former Leeds United prospect didn’t deserve this.

As Theo Hernandez swung a ball into the far post, AC Milan teammate Christian Pulisic met it plum on the volley.

And Elia Caprile, the one-time Leeds prospect now at Cagliari on loan from Serie A giants Napoli, reacted at the speed of light to divert Pulisic’s strike onto the base of his own post from almost point-blank range.

Caprile could not celebrate that for long, however.

The rebound could hardly have fallen more kindly to Alvaro Morata, a goalkeeper who did not make a single appearance for Leeds United between 2020 and 2022 helpless as the Spain striker followed in.

Caprile would, at least, have the last laugh at San Siro.

As Milan pushed for a winner – fellow shot-stopper Mike Maignan gifting Cagliari an equaliser with a very uncharacteristic blunder at the other end – Caprile denied Pulisic from an almost identical location before outwitting Tammy Abraham one-on-one.

Theo’s rocket of a free-kick, with pretty much the last action of the game, also suffered the same fate; Pushed away as Cagliari’s debutant glovesman held firm.

Former Leeds United starlet Elia Caprile shines against AC Milan

“He is showing constant growth and can grow more,” Cagliari coach Davide Nicola beamed, the Verona-born 23-year-old securing a point which could prove vital in the battle against relegation.

“I am happy with Caprile’s debut, he has functional characteristics for our game. We have a solid group. We still have to get a lot of points and we have to do it by playing in a certain way.

“I know [Caprile] well and my players know him well. He will have to show what he is worth. He has ambition and has the characteristics to become very good.

“For our game he is functional, not only with his feet. For a team that has to keep a lower block in certain games, when you have a goalkeeper who helps you, it is a big help.”

A former Italy Under-21 international, Caprile’s time in West Yorkshire may have been somewhat forgettable but, since returning to his homeland with Bari, his career has certainly entered an upward trajectory.

Napoli paid £6 million to sign Caprile on the back of his heroic performances in Serie B with Bari. A future as the Partenopei’s number one may still await him, too, with Napoli’s own Alex Meret out of contract this summer.

Reflecting on his Cagliari bow on the hallowed turf of AC Milan, meanwhile, Caprile could hardly have been happier both with his own performance and the eventual result.

“I couldn’t have wished for anything better,” he smiles. “An important point against a strong team on a difficult pitch, we have to continue like this.

“[We are] a great group, united and eager, that wants to reach the finish line. I fit in well.”

Leeds boss Daniel Farke must make Illan Meslier decision

Back at Elland Road, title-chasing Leeds still have the Illan Meslier issue to contend with.

Daniel Farke continues to support the under-fire Meslier but, after Karl Darlow impressed against Harrogate Town in the FA Cup, the Leeds boss has a difficult decision to make ahead of Sunday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

“The Meslier situation isn’t great,” EFL expert Ali Maxwell explains. “Something needs to change, whether Meslier gets dropped for Karl Darlow or whether they look to sign a goalkeeper.

“But that issue gets discussed as if other teams don’t have weaknesses. An individual issue like this compared to something on a team level, like chance creation being low or a poor defence, is a lot easier to solve.”