This could be the final season for Rafael Leao with the AC Milan shirt, as pointed out by Luca Bianchin, with a sale more realistic now than it has ever been.
Last night’s display against Udinese was the straw that broke the camel’s back for many. The No.10 not only struggled to find the back of the net, but also didn’t have much success overall. So much so that he wasn’t even surprised to be subbed off after 70 minutes (or at least so he thought).
Subsequently, his tenure at the club seems to be coming to a natural end as the current situation isn’t benefiting anyone. Daniele Longo reported earlier today that his agent is already evaluating solutions, and now Luca Bianchin has added fuel to the fire.
In his piece for Gazzetta dello Sport, the journalist decided to answer four key questions about Milan’s star…
Short Version
- Milan haven’t received any offers for Leao and there are no ongoing negotiations with any clubs.
- There is still a release clause, valued at €175m, but it’s only active between July 1-15. In short, it’s effectively useless.
- Milan have always considered the price tag to be €80-100m, but now they are willing to consider lower figures.
- The most likely destinations are the Premier League and Saudi Arabia, even if the latter is uncertain at the moment. Bayern Munich and Barca have also been interested in the past.
Have Milan received any offers?
No, as it’s still mid-April, there have been no offers to take into consideration. There aren’t even any negotiations for the time being, as Leao is fully focused on the current season and bouncing back from what has been a very tough period for him.
Since December, Leao hasn’t focused too much on the outside world. Instead, he has focused on his injury, his role at Milan, and his relationship with Allegri. There have indeed been some ups and downs with the gaffer but right now, the two are on good terms.
Is there still a release clause?
Yes, the clause that was added with the renewal in 2023 is still active, but it can only be triggered in early July each year. On the 15th of July, the clause expires and can no longer be used by any clubs that are interested in Leao.
The figure is €175m but considering today’s form, the clause is effectively useless. The only reason it was added in the first place was for Milan to protect themselves from a sale, especially since Leao had done so well in the Scudetto season and in 2022-23.
What is the price tag?
The price tag, more than ever in this situation, is determined by the clubs on the market. Chelsea are the only ones that have offered in the region of €80m, but that was several years ago and nothing came of their interest in the end.
Milan have always considered €80-100m to be the price tag, but now the situation is quite different. Since the contract will expire in 2028, as well as the struggles on the pitch, the Rossoneri will be ready to consider even lower figures.
If faced with a €40-50m offer, what would they do? Only time will tell.
Which club could buy him?
The initial answer would be anyone who has enough money to invest in potential, because Leao still hasn’t shown that he can perform at his highest over a long period of time. The Premier League and Saudi Arabia thus spring to mind, although the latter is a very uncertain option at the moment.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona have both been very interested in the past, while Manchester United have also kept tabs on the situation. The question is whether any of the interested sides would be willing to move before the World Cup, or if they want to see him perform there first.
Regardless of where Leao might end up, he will need a club that is willing to invest time and energy into his potential.
Not really related to the article but watching Chelsea v Man City and at half time they are talking about City being too slow on the ball – they are playing a pace of football that makes us look like we are playing walking football.
Watched Sunderland v Spurs earlier – both those teams would beat us.
It’s not just us though – it’s been coming for years but this season feels like it’s been awful in terms of quality up and down the league.
Inter are a ‘decent’ side at best and they are comfortably the best team in the league.
On paper Como are poor, and they are 4th entirely because they are moving the ball well.
All of Serie A needs its head shaking.
I agree. Every time I watch especially non-Italian clubs play I’m amazed by the pace. The ball is moving sooooo much faster. And the worst part is that even other Italians keep the pace higher than Milan. People are actually walking faster than our passes reach their targets.
Milan should try to at least get the money they paid for him to Lille and Sporting to sign him.
Fortune teller, this newspaper guy.
Realistically- Milan dont have proper attacker, despite Leao and Pulisic.
Milan will keep both Leao and Pulisic even doesnt reach UCL next year.
Why…
First reason is both Leao and Pulisic are first stars in the team. Second reason they are only wingers in Europe that play central forward position.
And third big reason no matter who Milan bring – there is no way that new name will be warranty that will score 15 goals in Serie a. 4th reason is that Milan will again do capital gain on other players, like possibly 12 on Chukwueze, maybe 5 to 7 on Bennacer, Maybe 10 on Musah, 10 on Colombo, 1 on Terracciano, and thats 40, and they will sell Bartesaghi for 20, and Fofana for 20, and again they will reach 80 of capital gain.
Than they will sell Nkunku and Gimenez, for fee that doesn’t make minusvalenza, and they will bring substitutes for them.
Its stupid to think that after this season transfermarket, where they removed all flopps from last season, they will keep flops of this season, and easily sell stars, who bring commercial money also, for small capital gain
But good luck for this newspaper guy in Fortune telling stories. Maybe in new article.
Mbappe plays as a striker at Real Madrid and he is a winger.
Dembele plays as a striker for PSG and he is a winger. He won the Ballon d’Or after a season where he played as a striker.
Why do we need to replace Leao with a player who can score 15 goals a season when Leao doesn’t come close to scoring that in 6 of the 7 seasons in serie A?
Milan doesn’t have stars, so how would they sell stars?
If they sold flops last summer why wouldn’t they sell flops, which Leao and Pulisic are, this summer?
Because real flops this season are:
Nkunku, Gimenez. Ricci, Jashari. And could be Ruben Loftus cheek.
These players are on bigger yearly cost side than Leao and Pulisic.
And when you combine all statistics data, final result is always them to sell first.
Putting Jashari and Ricci is crazy when they barely get minute and Jashari was injured. Tonali first season wasn’t gold btw, they need time to adapt considering that Allegri rarely rotate.
Now imagine what you wrote.
They both are so freaking expensive and they dont even play because theirs stats when they play are terrible.
So you understand which obviously part of selling players is going to be.
Jashari a flop? He broke his leg my friend, and had he been given minutes that Ricci got I believe he would have given us more. Not really sure what Allegri is planning with him, but the way he treated him this season, I agree he will flop so would anyone
We all know you don’t like Leao, but try and be objective in your criticism and comparisons, look around Mbappe as a striker, check the attackers around him, check the midfield even attacking minded defenders which of them compares to Milan players in all department? Same goes for PSG, if you make Leao the striker in Real Madrid team he will perform as much as Mbappe or surpass that. Bring Mbappe to this Milan, he won’t score a single goal, the set up is defensive, do I blame Allegri not really because the defence is crap and the mildfield is average without vision, when a 40yr old marshals a midfield of a top team then that tells a lot
” if you make Leao the striker in Real Madrid team he will perform as much as Mbappe or surpass that.” Lolololol
I laughed at that too bro😂🤣🤣
“sell flops, which Leao and Pulisic are”
So… The two players who are amongst the TOP5 Serie A goal contributors during the last 3 seasons are “flops”? OK. I guess that makes 95% of the players in the league “flops” too. 🤦♂️
Keep Leao or sell him, the issue is still that Milan doesn’t seem to know exactly what it wants to do.
Do they want to be a defensive focused team that wins by 1 consistently?
Do they want to be an attacking team with athletic veterans leading?
What’s the pathway for youth to reach 1st team? Loan, then play? Or bounce between futuro and 1st until ready?
Right now it doesn’t feel like anyone is untouchable because Milan doesn’t have an official type of ball they want to play. So you can make the argument for literally anyone to stay, go, or transfer in. And that’s what all the rumors suggest: from young midfielders, veteran forwards, young and veteran CBs.
Basically, beyond tactics… what kind of player does Milan want? Besides literally any player that costs money? Because there’s no consistency in the player targets.
time to say goodbay to few players. Leao could be first.
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but also time to say goodbay to Igli Tare. his transfers were big drama. no strikers, spent money for who? in my opinion he should take responsibility. the same Ibrahimovic. drama, drama, drama…
De Winter, Athekame, Rabiot and Modric have been successes. Ricci was wanted last season, he’s a carry over from previous management. Tare won’t be going anywhere.
when you talk about Dewinter and Athekame, define success…
When a newly purchased player earns a place in the starting 11 week after week based on his performances, I’d say the transfer was a “success”.
Athekame isn’t there yet but then again… He wasn’t bought to be a starter so he can still be a “success”. He has grown and maybe next season could challenge for the starting spot.
Athekame and De Winter are great success? great point of view. however, I focused more on strikers. what’s the problem for Tare or Ibra? I can work for 1/100 of this what they earn in Milan together and will find much better ideas, better players.
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third position is big drama, but Allegri had done good job. unfortunately, the board did not provide any very solid striker for him, who score every now and again.
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Leao football is the same like his rap which addressed to 12 years boys.
Leao is a great player that have almost everything really except 3 crucial things that makes you a world class player and that is Leao have a very low football IQ, Very poor Tactical awareness and no dog in him and that makes him just a good player and I believe that the management hyped him up to much. If you want build a team around Leao then you need manager like De Zerbi that would use him just like he used Boga at Sassuolo.