Portugal and AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has had an odd career so far. He joined AC Milan on the blessing of Paolo Maldini, and lit up the San Siro in his early years. A massive release clause meant that even when the big hitters of Europe came knocking for him, he remained in Milan. Now, it looks like the relationship is over.
Rafael Leao is now at the very top of Milan’s transfer list, and expected to be sold for around €40m. But with recent performances being mixed, he’ll need to have a good tournament this summer if he wants to get himself a big transfer. A big move for him would be beneficial for him and for AC Milan equally.
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Leao is set to be a crucial piece of Portugal’s team at the World Cup this summer, and could well be a favourite for DFS fans. Fans can check out the best DFS soccer picks today with Rotogrinders.
Leao looking for a way out of AC Milan
Rafael Leão has made his intentions crystal clear: it’s time to leave AC Milan. The Portuguese winger has publicly declared his desire for a fresh challenge away from San Siro this summer, with his eyes set on the Premier League.
Playing out of position and battling pubalgia, he’s underperformed under Massimiliano Allegri’s tactical setup, leaving him frustrated despite producing 0.58 goal contributions per 90 minutes
Milan’s failure to qualify for the Champions League has only sharpened his resolve to move on. Now, with the 2026 World Cup looming, Leão faces a critical window: a strong summer transfer and fresh start could reignite his career.
Leao needs a successful World Cup campaign
Leao is set to be a crucial piece of the Portugal team as they head to the World Cup in North America. He’s part of an absolutely stacked Portugal team, including PSG midfielders Vintinha and Joao Neves, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes fresh off breaking the Premier League assists record, and of course Cristiano Ronaldo, set to start at his last ever World Cup at 41 years old.
Rafael Leao has a starting role in the team, likely to play on the left wing with Ronaldo playing at striker. It’s difficult to imagine a Portugal team without Ronaldo, but Leao has to make a name for himself. His sloppy form at Milan, plus their failure to qualify for the Champions League, has knocked him out of contention for a big money move.
Now it seems that major European clubs, such as Man United and Arsenal, wouldn’t be willing to pay more than €40m for him, but if he has a good tournament, his value will skyrocket. That money could go a long way to rebuilding Milan’s team, especially with the lack of Champions League football at San Siro this year.
