CM: Chelsea interest and a nine-figure price tag – Milan’s stance on Leao outlined

Rafael Leao is preparing to take on Napoli once again, who are one of his favourite foes, but his future at AC Milan remains the subject of speculation.

Calciomercato.com write how when Leao looks at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona he smiles. There are several memories that tie him to Napoli’s stadium: the great performance in a Champions League quarter-final and the brace in the large 0-4 victory in April 2023.

Sunday’s will be a special challenge for the Portuguese because he really doesn’t want to give up on being in next season’s Champions League. He has six goals and seven assists this season, having shown familiar inconsistency, and it seems he still isn’t close to being the 20-goal man.

Leao has a long contract until 2028 with a deliberately exaggerated release clause of €150m that not even the Arab clubs can/will meet. This is where the evaluations on the future are difficult: the No.10 is liked by many clubs but nobody will come close to the value of the clause.

Saudi clubs already knocked in January without really getting anywhere, but in view of the summer the idea of a move to England could gain ground again. Chelsea have been evaluating for months the possibility of presenting an offer for the former Lille star.

Milan’s desire would be to move forward with Rafa, with or without the Champions League. The Blues will try to exploit the support of Jorge Mendes but with the awareness that for less than €100m the Rossoneri would not even open a discussion.