Gianluca Di Marzio remains optimistic on behalf of AC Milan that they will eventually reach an agreement with Rafael Leao over a new contract.
Leao’s renewal saga has dragged on for months now and there has been nothing recently to suggest that the parties are getting closer to finally striking a deal, all while his contract ticks towards the final 12 months and with the summer window approaching.
What doesn’t help is that the Portuguese forward has gone nine weeks without a goal amid demands to become by far the highest paid player in the squad, while the team are far from certain of a spot in the top four too given their awful start to 2023.
Di Marzio spoke to TMW at the Gran Galà dello Sport even in Castiglion Fiorentino and he was asked about the renewal of Leao, with his comments relayed by our colleagues at SempreMilan.it.
“I am one of those who – even when there was talk of a relationship in crisis or of great difficulties or rupture between the parties – have always professed great positivity, because when there is the will of both parties to reach an agreement I am always convinced that in the end an agreement can be found,” he said.
“There is the weight of the fine owed to Sporting CP because the player is trying to earn as much as possible because he has to pay around 16-17 million, but there is his will to stay.
“I think this is a fundamental prerequisite for reaching to an agreement that I think will be reached. I don’t know the timing because I don’t create the contracts, but I’m confident that an agreement can be reached.”
It seems Maldini and Co are amateurs when it comes to contract negotiations. We see it time and time again. 5mill should have been enough to close the deal or be sold.
Maldini and Massara are amateurs. Then follows it up by saying 5mil should have been enough. The comments be wild here 😂😂😂
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Yeah this boy gonna leave Milan. I don’t see he wants to renew from how he played the last 3 month.
Take the opportunity to sell him on, should have done that already. He clearly has no intention of signing or would have done so already. Have we not learned from Kessie ? As with many young players nowadays, hyped up with very little to evidence the hype. Worse still, he believes he is something special.
People just refuse to learn from past mistakes.
The 4 other players that left Milan for free ALSO wanted to stay at Milan, but for the salary they wanted. Just like leao.
And Leao if he actually is so concerned for the fine he has to pay he should spend more time improving his gane. With improvement and better performances will come more money, be it thru salary or commercial opportunities.
If he actually believes in himself, he can always accept Milan offer, perform on high level(if he actually can) and then next year ask for a raise or be sold. No team will keep a player that wants to leave if there is interest from other clubs.
Leao and his team messed up this whole situation, because even if he gets the money he wants the pressure on him from that point on will be heavy from everyone, especially because they dragged out the negotiations and him being awful on the field.
If he accepted around 5 mil early, right salary IMO, for a player who has had only several good months in his career, and continued to play in peace, the situation would have been totally different.
Bottom line, Leao needs to be sold this summer. Milan should look at what they want and not what leao wants. Get whatever you can for him. Left wing it’s easy position to replace.