Sunday’s game against Cagliari at San Siro could really bring an end to Rafael Leao’s time with AC Milan, a report claims.
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Calciomercato.com confirm that the final game of 2025-26 could also be Leao’s last match in a Milan shirt. Over the past few months things seem to have soured between the player, the club and even the fans, with poor performances met by jeers which clearly affected him.
Last dance?
Having missed the game against Genoa due to suspension, Leao is expected to start the match against the Sardinian side but it is not a guarantee at the moment. Everything will depend on the training sessions at Milanello during the week, with Christopher Nkunku having hit a bit of form.
As a reminder, Leao has a €175m release clause in his deal. It’s clear that no team in the world would pay the entire clause: his value didn’t even come close to that figure during the glories of the 2021-22 Scudetto.
His recent performances have undoubtedly lowered his market value, so he could now be sold for a much lower price. These performances on the pitch have inevitably put any potential contract renewal talks on hold.
Milan had already made initial contact with the Portuguese player’s entourage last fall to establish the basis for an extension of his existing agreement. The salary could have gone from €7m including bonuses to €7m fixed, with the term extended to 2030 or 2031.
Since then, due to his inconsistency on the pitch and the uncertainties surrounding the Champions League and next year’s club structure, contacts have stalled.
Where could Rafa go?
What price would Milan consider? The current rumours speak of €50-60m. Anything below that means the Diavolo would not even begin any negotiations, also to avoid the possibility of generating a capital loss in the accounts.
If Lea ‘s future lies far from Milan, there are essentially three scenarios to consider. The first is Barcelona, a team that has always admired the Portuguese and have already approached his entourage in the past.
Second: the Premier League, with Chelsea potentially considering him again and Manchester United already making moves to try to interact with the Rossoneri by bringing in some technical counterparts.
Last, but not least, the path to Saudi Arabia and Al-Hilal, led by Simone Inzaghi and with his friend Theo Hernandez still there. The Saudis are constantly pressing, but the former Lille star is unlikely to want to leave Europe and top-flight football for now.
All of these will become options to take into consideration, especially if the match against Cagliari will be Leao’s last in a Milan shirt.