Yesterday, the Portuguese newspaper Record published an interview with Antonio Leao that has gathered a lot of attention, since he is the father of Rafael Leao.
MilanNews have looked into his comments and they have tried to deduce whether the overall feeling is positive or negative, starting with the question asked about whether the winger will renew with Milan or if he could be sold to Chelsea or another top club abroad.
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“The answer is: we are working on it. We are negotiating, because Rafael Leão has a contract that expires in 2024. Until that date, we are negotiating on everything. Without Chelsea, without Barcelona, without Real Madrid, there we are dealing with this,” he said.
The report adds that Antonio’s statements do not add significant news to what is already known on the renewal issue, but they confirm the difficulty because there are so many factors at play and they all have their importance.
Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara have to speak with Leao’s father, with the French lawyer who in mid-October visited Casa Milan, and with the entourage headed by Jorge Mendes. Then, Milan have to tackle the salary demands and all the implications of granting a huge pay rise, but also the Sporting CP issue.
Considering the lack of news, it is not easy to understand whether the words of Leao’s father are positive or negative for the player’s chances of renewing, but what is certain is that the situation will have to be resolved by June 2023 or a sale for €100m+ will become a necessity.
Maldini already said they wanted to make the contractual situation clear before the WC. We all know it didn’t happen. Added with this egocentric kind of interview (only talked about his son and himself without ever mentioning the team and all its environment that made Leao the way he is now), well, we’re too familiar where it may lead to.
Key phrase: “until that date (i.e. contract expiration) we are negotiating”.
That says it all. He doesn’t even try to hide his strategy. I am not sure what our management expects.
Yes, he’s great player, yes he will be missed but yes, he needs to be sold in January. It’s unthinkable that he might play after January without a contract renewal (which will not come evidently).
Okay say Leao got sold in January. But the questions are:
1. Who’s the player that can replace Leao perfectly without adapting again?
2. Can Maldini find that player considering January transfer window isn’t as long as summer and there’s not many cases where clubs selling their top player.
And if Maldini can’t find Leao replacement in January then who’s gonna take the responsibility if Milan got bad results because they lost one of their top goal scorer and assist, you?!
Remember, in January we needs to face Inter at Super Italia then face Salernitana, Roma, Lecce, Lazio, and Sassuolo. And in February we will have matches against Inter, Monza, Torino, Atalanta, AND Tottenham in Champions League. All those matches are VERY IMPORTANT for Milan journeys in Serie-A and Champions League in this season.
It’s easy for you to say “Just sell Leao” but you didn’t think the impact if he’s gone and Milan can’t find his replacement.
Cody Gakpo.
Cody Gakpo is just a new CDK, I’m Dutch and we should never bring players in from Eredivisie or Belgium league. The level is just so low and even here Gakpo still plays shit games, then he will be the same as CDK now, without any confidence and don’t know how to play anymore. Never bring him in, same for Lang
Fair
The guy only wants Liverpool but Madrid also wants him. So good luck recruiting him in January lol.
There’s no doubt that he will be missing her greatly. It is impossible (not just difficult) to replace him immediately.
But his value will keep dropping every single month. Once it becomes clear that he will not renew, he has to be sold. It’s good in the long run.
Most likely he won’t be sold in Jan. But in the next Summer mercato. It’s not like a new thing to see players play when they’re running out of contract. And in the next summer mercato, he’d still have one year left, so it’ll be a good (altho not decent) bargaining power for us.
Let’s just hope that his mind won’t be somewhere else and give us good hands ’till the very last match of the season. If he plays good and consistant, it’s for his self-interest as well. In a way that he’ll still have many suitors, who are willing to fulfil his egoistical dad’s demand.
he is gone ,
To sell the man in january would be sheer lunacy.
Every month that passes his value drops by 10m.
Don’t get me wrong, I wish he would stay but let’s face it, it seems like unlike every day passing. It’s just economically wise to sell him sooner.
They cant sell in summer for 100m+. There must be deduction.