One of the most important issues that AC Milan must tackle in the coming weeks is the renewal of Rafael Leao and it will be far from easy to resolve.
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Calciomercato.com writes that an agreement has not arrived on Leao’s renewal despite the words of technical director Paolo Maldini, who stated that the club were hoping for the extension of the winger’s contract to be done before the World Cup.
The Portuguese international is happy at Milan and conversely Milan would obviously like to extend his current deal expiring in 2024, but three problems remain: the €19m fine owed to Sporting CP jointly with Lille, the confusing situation between agent Jorge Mendes and French lawyer Ted Dimvula, and the salary demands.
No meetings are planned in the coming weeks, while calls from foreign clubs arrived in the summer and will arrive again if there is failure to find an agreement, with Chelsea, Manchester City and others ready to offer up big contracts if no agreement is reached.
Above all, not penning a new deal would push Milan to think about accepting the offers that will arrive, because €80-100m for a player expiring after a year and a half or a year is a significant amount and a repeat of the Donnarumma and Kessie situation would be unacceptable.
Maldini and Massara’s strategy must be seen as they must either meet Leao’s requests or to sell him as soon as possible, perhaps even in the January window, so as not to see his price drop further.
