AC Milan were without Rafael Leao during the loss against Napoli before the international break, but he will return from the start against Empoli tomorrow night.
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) reports this morning, Leao has become a fundamental player in Pioli’s system, and he will have to bring all of his qualities to the table given that Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez are both injured.
The Portuguese winger is also expected at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday, when Milan will visit Chelsea in a crucial Champions League match, and it must be remembered that the Blues attempted to sign him over the summer but their attempts were rejected by Paolo Maldini.
The issue of Leao’s contract extension is becoming central at the Rossoneri as the weeks go by. Maldini underlined how the renewed economic stability of Milan – better than that of a year ago – can allow a different way of acting for the club in the negotiation phase for the renewal.
This basically means that the club will do everything in its power to try to keep Leao after the renewals of Theo and Tonali but they will not break the balance they have struck in the wage structure. The fine that Leao has to pay to Sporting CP must also be considered too, but Milan are only spectators in the affair.
