Paolo Maldini did not manage to achieve his target of securing Rafael Leao’s renewal before the World Cup break, so now all options are open.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Calciomercato.com report how Maldini’s words from the Globe Soccer Awards last night confirmed that the club’s plans have not come to fruition, with Leao now set to jet off for the World Cup where he could well be a protagonist that makes the renewal negotiations even more difficult.
An honest Maldini, almost resigned, who even hinted at a slight annoyance at how things went: “We’ve been discussing this for months and years. When the time comes we meet, when a decision has to be made, we will. Now make predictions… The idea was to close before the World Cup, especially for players who have gone to the World Cup, in this case it was not possible for Leao.”
There are several difficulties related to Leao’s renewal such as the confusion over power of attorney between the family lawyer and agent Jorge Mendes, plus the €19.5m fine owed to Sporting CP jointly with former club Lille.
The salary request is around €8-9m net per season – a figure that Maldini and Massara will not pay – so with the World Cup and the January market approaching, an offer of €100m would make the directors think.
