The future of Rafael Leão has become one of the thorniest issues of the summer at AC Milan. After a disappointing 2026 World Cup, both on a collective level with Portugal and on an individual level, the 27-year-old winger continues to fuel questions around his future. Long convinced of wanting to turn the Milan page, the Portuguese is now multiplying contradictory signals, to the point of plunging the Rossoneri into a particularly uncomfortable situation. Even before the transfer window opened, Leão had clearly hinted that his story with Milan was coming to an end.
Called up with Portugal for the World Cup, he explained: “I think that, personally, I have already given everything I had to Milan. It’s a club that helped me grow a lot, that supported me in difficult times, and fortunately, I also managed to write my name in history. Everyone has dreams and ambitions to have a new challenge in a new championship. And if that happens, I will be very happy and also accomplished because I have done my job in Milan. » At the same time, the former Lille player also admitted to following the Premier League closely: “Yes, I often watch the Premier League. I love Manchester United, especially because of Cristiano Ronaldo who is my idol, but Arsenal is also a team that I follow on television. »
Leão is not so courted
But the scenario imagined by Leão never really materialized. Despite his status and experience, proposals have been particularly rare. His World Cup, where he only started once for a record of one goal and one assist in 5 matches, did not increase his rating. AC Milan hoped to recover between 60 and 70 million euros, but the market remained very calm. Only Fenerbahçe has really gone on the offensive with a particularly attractive salary offer: eight million euros per season, to which would be added various bonuses, while the Turkish club would be ready to offer around 50 million euros for his transfer.
View this post on Instagram
As if this issue was not already complicated enough, Leão has further fueled the debates in recent days by appearing… in Brazil. On vacation, the Portuguese chose to train with Corinthians in order to maintain pace before his planned return to Milan on July 29. The Paulista club even immortalized his visit by offering him a jersey flocked with his name with the number 17, widely highlighted on social networks. An initiative which surprised, even annoyed some fans, while the player has still not officially returned to the Milan group and his future remains completely unclear.
Incomprehensible media releases
Faced with this situation, the new Rossoneri coach, Rúben Amorim, prefers to procrastinate. Asked about the Leão case, the Portuguese technician was cautious: “my decision on Rafa Leão? I won’t talk about individual players, I’m very happy with the team. I’m happy that Cardinale wants to show her support. I should study the team and the profiles I need, then we will evaluate the players. » A way of avoiding further fueling an already very sensitive soap opera within the Lombard club. But it was above all Rafael Leão’s last speech which completely muddied the waters.
While he seemed to have announced his departure several weeks ago, the Portuguese international suddenly opened the door to a continuation of the adventure in Lombardy: “I have already discussed with the club the possibility of trying a new adventure, but I don’t know if it will come to fruition. I have to report to training camp on July 29 and, while I’m there, I will give my best, out of respect for the jersey that gave me everything. Milan have helped me enormously at all levels, but in life you also have ambitions for other things, and if that arises, I will study the different options, but I will remain a Milan player.”. Clearly, Leão wants to leave… without being certain of leaving. For its part, AC Milan now wishes to quickly clarify a situation that has become difficult, while the transfer window advances and the real contenders are still waiting.
