Rafael Leao is one of the hottest properties in European football right now. The Portuguese winger has lit up Serie A, impressed on the European stage, and put in some good performances for Portugal.
Unsurprisingly, he has received praise from countless experts and caught the attention of many big hitters. Milan will struggle to retain his services during the summer transfer window, with some tempting offers no doubt around the corner. But where is the exciting winger most likely to end up?
Manchester United
Manchester United have struggled to find any consistency in attack this season. The Red Devils have found some success with Høijund, but with 7 goals in 24 Premier League appearances at the time of writing, the Dane hasn’t turned into the Haaland double that the red side of Manchester had hoped for.
Mount has been equally disappointing, Rashford is inconsistent, and while Garnacho has had some brilliant moments, he’s only one man in a troubled squad.
Leao would clearly make a big difference to this team, so it’s no surprise that there are rumours United will sign him. Those rumours suggest they could prise him away from Milan for anywhere between €125m and €175m.
It’s a staggering sum of money, but it’s one that could help Manchester United to compete with the big boys again. It’s also hard to imagine Milan turning down such a sizeable offer.
PSG
PSG looks set to lose Mbappé at the end of the season, leaving a sizable hole in the French team’s attack. Leao is a very similar player and could fill that hole perfectly, ensuring the Parisians can continue to compete at the highest level.
There have already been rumours about their interest in the Portuguese winger, and if he’s going to end up leaving for a 9-fugure sum, PSG is one of the few teams not averse to paying those sums.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s season never really gotten going, despite the fact they have one of the most expensive teams in the world.
The Blues invested huge sums of money in attacking talent and will surely be looking at Rafael Leao, but FFP rules could get in the way unless they’re willing to offload a few more of those academy prospects.
It would be fun to see Rafael Leao link up with Cole Palmer, one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League right now, but with no Champions League football on the horizon, it probably won’t happen.
Barcelona
Barcelona’s 2024 hasn’t quite gone to plan. Their rivals in the capital have dominated the league and despite taking a lead into their quarter-final Champions League tie against PSG, they fell to a brilliant display from Mbappé and Co. in the return fixture. Leao’s signature would likely make a huge difference to Barcelona, so they could make him their number 1 target.
Raphinha has put in some solid performances, but Lewandowski is not getting any younger, Yamal is only 16, and they don’t have too many world class options elsewhere. Leao could be the missing piece that they have been looking for, a top winger that will give them the pace and skill that Vinicius Junior has given Madrid.
Other contenders
Real Madrid has been linked with Rafael Leao in the past, but that interest seems to have waned, and if it’s true that Mbappé will make his way to Madrid in June, Los Blancos don’t really need him. Madrid already has Vinicius Junior, with Bellingham in support.
It would certainly make for an all-star line-up if Rafael Leao joined them, but that’s a lot of money to spend on an attack that arguably doesn’t need help.
Newcastle will also, undoubtedly, be linked with Leao. The Toon Army is technically the richest club in the world following Saudi investment, but the owners have been very studious in their transfer window dealings.
Although the black and whites are linked with every big name, there’s no way the owners will sanction a spend of over €100m when they have FFP rules hanging over them.
Arsenal is another team linked to Rafael Leao, and one whose playing style would suit the winger. But it’s not an area that desperately needs to be strengthened, especially not when it would require most or all of their summer budget.
Waiting for offers
It seems certain that Leao will be playing football outside of Italy next season. You’ll find fairly low odds on betting sites for him leaving, but unless you’re playing at a leading no wagering casino in Canada, there’s always an element of risk with gambling, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking about a bet.
There’s no telling where he will end up or even if he will leave. He could end up in Saudi Arabia, he could work his way over to one of our domestic rivals, or he could remain – only time will tell.
