One of the hot topics surrounding Milan at the moment is regarding the renewal of Rafael Leao, and it remains a complicated issue.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall that Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara have sealed the renewals of Davide Calabria, Ante Rebic, Sandro Tonali, Theo Hernandez, Alexis Saelemaekers, Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, Simon Kjaer, Rade Krunic and Pierre Kalulu this year, but Leao’s name is unlikely to be added to the list in 2022.
Leao’s renewal is the ‘most delicate’ of the ones still on the list (Ismael Bennacer, Olivier Giroud and possible Zlatan Ibrahimovic) both for the value of the player and for the intricate framework in which the Rossoneri managers have operate in.
There is the double power of attorney involving the lawyer Ted Dimvula and agent Jorge Mendes, the €20m fine that Rafa must pay to Sporting CP and the big salary demands given the winger’s status as league MVP.
The management are thinking that around €7m net per year could be the right figure to find an agreement, but there is still a lot to do. Maldini and Pioli keep repeating in public that Leao should stay, while the player repeatedly sends signals of affection to the club on social media as in reality, but that’s not enough for now.
Meanwhile, from December 26, Leao will be back with the rest of the squad and with the start of the new year, the game of renewal will start again. Only then will the puzzle be complete.
