Rafael Leao of Portugal

Mundo Deportivo: Mendes factor and €2bn Nike deal – Barcelona believe they can land Leao

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

A report from Spain has claimed that Barcelona are planning a big summer window in 2025, with Rafael Leao among their targets.

Mundo Deportivo talks about how enthusiasm has returned to Barcelona. They are top spot in LaLiga, have made an excellent start in the Champions League and are showing very good signs under the new head coach.

Moreover, their off-field situation is improving too having signed a sponsorship agreement worth €2bn in total until 2038 with Nike, which restores economic competitiveness to the Blaugrana. Now, they are planning moves for the summer.

Leao is one of their targets, and Barca can count on the fact they have a very strong relationship with his agent Jorge Mendes, the man who currently holds the mandate to sell him abroad, despite the power of attorney being in the hands of a lawyer chosen by the player’s father.

In Barcelona they are convinced that Portuguese winger is the best alternative to Nico Williams, who was a target last summer but preferred to stay at Athletic Bilbao. In Leao, president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco see the potential to become an absolute top player in his position.

They have registered an interest in talks with Mendes. Leao is under contract with Milan until June 2028, he earns a net salary of €7m per season and his price tag will be very high, given that the Rossoneri are protected by a €175m clause.

From Spain, the idea is being reiterated that Leao may be considering leaving due to his less than idyllic relationship with coach Paulo Fonseca, a relationship that in reality has significantly improved in recent times.

At the same time, Leao – who has just become the father of twins – has reiterated his deep bond with Milan and Italy, thus distancing the possibility of an immediate departure. However, these rumours from Spain will not go away.

Mundo Deportivo also mention that Barcelona are looking into signing Jonathan David as a potential heir to Robert Lewandowski. He has been linked with Milan, and his deal runs out at the end of the season, while he publicly spoke recently about his dream of playing for the Catalan side.

Tags AC Milan Rafael Leao

11 Comments

  1. Idk what barca is thinking but from my pov they don’t need to spend big on a winger. A rotation purchase would be enough.
    A cb and a gk should be their priorities and ofc replacement for the 36yo ST.

    1. It’s Barcelona. They’re like us, buying x when they need y, but instead of 20M they spend 100M. So I think this is real. My hope is that they go back to their “primary” target Williams and get him instead. Hopefully Williams is finally ready to leave perpetually midtable Bilbao in 2025.

      1. Haven’t the Williams sworn eternal loyalty to the city and its club.

        I don’t see them leaving Bilbao despite it been a midtable club to go to Barca. A league rival, especially with thier professed love for their home.

  2. Are you even serious? Anyway let’s see if Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick dare to buy Leao outright for 175 M€, not lowballing, nor bargaining, except for Lamine Yamal.

  3. Barcelona have never been a smart shopper/spender. I am not surprised. But if money comes our way we would like to thank them anyway. And no, we will never get desperate because of news like this. This is entirely normal in the world of football. Bring on something more exciting please.

  4. I mean if they’re dumb enough to give us almost 200mil, sure. That would be enough to get a CDM, ST, and LB of actual quality and still have some change leftover.

  5. Of course they could land him any team can land him,you just have to pay the release clause which is 175 mil and then convince the player and everyone will be happy be our guest.

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