Serie A final weekend talking points

Talking points from the final weekend in Serie A.

LEAO STAR RISES TO INSPIRE MILAN TO GLORY

There have been many standout stars in AC Milan's first title-winning season in 11 years, sealed by a 3-0 victory at Sassuolo on Sunday, but few have had the end-of-season impact of Rafael Leao.

While Olivier Giroud earned the plaudits for his double in the victory in Emilia-Romagna, both of the veteran Frenchman's goals were supplied by Leao, after the Portugal forward showed great tenacity to create the openings.

That took Leao's tally to three goals and five assists in Milan's final six league games - a return that made all the difference when it mattered - with the 22-year-old unable to hold back the tears as he lifted the trophy.

Reports in Italy suggested several clubs around Europe are interested in signing Leao in the close season, speculation which will only increase after his recent fine form.

INTER SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR

Two trophies represents a decent return for Inter Milan this term, in Simone Inzaghi's first season in charge of the club, but having got so close to retaining their Serie A title, they will wonder what might have been.

Adding the Scudetto to their Coppa Italia and Supercoppa triumphs was a tall order, especially after losing key players Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi before the start of the season, but getting so close is almost tougher to take.

"We are Inter, we are a great team," Inzaghi told DAZN. "We have won two trophies but now we are sorry to have finished second. We have made an extraordinary journey that has not been enough.

"I have to say that nobody likes being second. This season will be difficult to forget."

SALERNITANA STAY UP IN EXTRAORDINARY FASHION

It has been quite the season on the Amalfi Coast for Salernitana back in Serie A.

They avoided being expelled from the Italian top-flight earlier in the campaign after a new owner was found at the 11th hour, as it is not permitted for previous owner - Lazio president Claudio Lotito - to be in charge of two clubs in the same league at the same time.

On the pitch, thing appeared not to have not gone well in the club's first Serie A term in 23 years, with the side from Salerno rock bottom of the standings last month and seemingly on course for relegation.

However, out of nowhere, a run of seven games unbeaten saw them climb out of the bottom three ahead of the final day, with their destiny in their own hands at home to Udinese.

Fittingly, Salernitana completed their great escape after a tumultuous season in extraordinary fashion, as they were hammered 4-0 by Udinese, but stayed up after Cagliari below them failed to beat already-relegated Venezia.