While a lot of the attention is rightly on AC Milan’s progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the management are continuing to work off the field to try secure a couple of key renewals.
As reported by Corriere dello Sport (via PianetaMilan) this morning, Paolo Maldini is working on Rafael Leao’s renewal which he would have liked to conclude before the World Cup in Qatar, but trust between the parties has remained intact.
During the month of January an agreement seemed to get closer but, apart from cordial meetings, things seemed to stop. Leao receives a salary of around €1.5m net per season at the moment and Milan put a €6.5m plus bonuses offer on the table.
The Portuguese forward has not closed the door to the idea of staying but the real problems that are slowing down the operation are the commissions owed to his entourage and the fine owed to Sporting CP.
If an agreement were not found in recent months, Milan would be forced to sell Leao in the summer so as not to risk losing him on a free transfer.
Another player at the centre of a contract extension negotiation is Olivier Giroud but for the French forward the situation seems a bit more straightforward as there is a gap of just €300k between offer and demand. Milan would like to keep the current salary of €3.5m for another season and Giroud would be happy to stay.
