Gerry Cardinale has been at Milanello today and one of his big meetings was with Rafael Leao. Now, some information has filtered through about his AC Milan future.
Today’s visit from Cardinale is not uncommon at this stage, especially at this moment of the mercato. Ahead of the first fixture, the Milan owner wants to give the team some encouragement. However, that wasn’t his only task.
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Indeed, several talks with big names were planned.
Leao’s immediate and further future
Daniele Longo, via @MilanPosts on X, reports that the Portuguese did not train today ahead of the game against Torino. As a result, he won’t feature. So, perhaps that gifts the starting spot to Alphadjo Cisse, with Christian Pulisic also a question mark.
Beyond this weekend, some information on his future is also provided. A suitable transfer is sought for him, but failing that, Ruben Amorim may have to ‘carefully reintegrate him’. Of course, this may be a difficulty with the tactical and technical issues.
Nevertheless, it would have to be done to avoid further drops in his value. There is still time to sort a transfer and from these suggestions, it seems all parties are aligned on a desire to part. However, something needs to come to fruition quickly.
Really Leao would do more harm than good playing?
It is about money. If you don’t play him his value is only going to decrease and can you keep that amount of money on the bench? I am surprised that he is not even worth 50 ml now. Seeing some of these unproven young players go for 60+ ml and the English midfielder Anderson go for 116 ml pounds….. makes no sense to me. In California we joke that there is a Cabernet tax that ups the price of a NAPA bottle of Cab; I guess for footballers there as an English tax.
Leao’s problem is mental not physical. He needs to eat humble pie and that will never happen at Milan.
There absolutely is an English tax, that’s not disputed in football.
But in Leao’s case, how skillset doesn’t translate into the way the game has evolved in the last 5-10 years. The top squads in Europe don’t carry luxury players any more; they still press and fit a tactical system. Unfortunately, the two main basket case clubs in England (Man Utd and Chelsea) have started to sort out their sporting directions instead of buying names, so they’re not easy options any more.
Also, his value has plummeted because his profile doesn’t age well. So a club signing him to a 5 year deal is going to be paying 25M a year for him (including wages). In 3 years’ time when he’s 30, will they be able to sell him on for 20M with a 10M net wage?
Meanwhile, sign a 20 year old for 7 years (not allowed in Italy) on a lower wage, then he’ll still have potential value in 5 years time.
So if Milan want to move on from Leao, we have to accept what the market rate for him is going to be. Otherwise, we have to make the most of him.
Milan doesn’t need Leao’s attitude.
Ma njega su navijači trebali malo propustiti kroz šake.Za tu plaću treba da jede travu ako trener traži.
Yes…if he got injured playing then he can’t be sold
Leao is lazy which causes more harm than good. He does not press and does not take risks. We have a better chance to win with Cisse hustling and working hard.
Unfortunately not much will save his plummeting value (to be fair)..
I think a move to Saudi will be an eye opener for him – he can then decide if he really wants to be a top footballer or just celebrity
He is not even a celebrity. He is just surrounded by delusional people and yes-men.
It’s a damn shame. essential part of ’21-22 scudetto.
Hopes were high for Leao
He is ready to go turkey… Come on lads ..
If we can’t sell him, we can keep him as a super sub. If injury free he can definitely make things happen on the pitch. His problem is he’s lazy. Too lazy to become great. He is also only good as a left winger. He can’t play anywhere else and does not work hard enough.
But as a super sub he can assist and score so his value could rise until the winter.
Not being a starter can make him consider other alternatives.
I really believe that the his attitude is what is costing him all these. Especially, publicly announced himself that he want to go, is the pains in Candinale, board and most Milan fans heart. Even I, I don’t really care if he stays or not.
At this juncture on his case, i am after discipline. Yes Milan might loss values but in other way, he must be use as example to others.
He’s sooo lazy! Can’t wait to see him go hopefully he takes his boyfriend Olumighty with him.
Wheres Zlatan Is he involved Anymore in these big trnsfers?