The future of Rafael Leão remains one of the hottest topics of the Rossoneri summer. The situation continues to evolve, yet remains shrouded in uncertainty: on one side, a concrete push from Galatasaray; on the other, the Portuguese attacker’s dream of moving to the Premier League. In between, AC Milan must find the best solution for everyone — and quickly.
Turkey Pushes Hard: Galatasaray’s Offer
From Turkey, there is great optimism surrounding the deal. Galatasaray are reportedly willing to put a staggering figure on the table: €10 million net per season for Leão — almost double what the Portuguese star currently earns at Milan, where he receives €5 million net plus €2 million in easily achievable bonuses, bringing the total to nearly €7 million per year, guaranteed by a contract running until 2028.
On paper, an economically irresistible offer. Yet, despite spending a few days in Turkey — officially described as a family holiday after the World Cup — Leão does not appear convinced by Galatasaray, nor by the Turkish league in general. Had the destination truly excited him, the move would already be in motion. For now, it remains in the realm of speculation.
The Premier League Dream and the Risks for Milan
Leão’s priority is clear: the English top flight. The Premier League is the stage the Portuguese winger has his sights set on should he leave Milan. The problem is that, at present, there are no concrete offers from English clubs. And this is the biggest risk for Milan: being left with a player who wants to leave, with all the consequences that brings in terms of atmosphere and squad cohesion.
Last season left its mark: Leão was booed by his own fans in the final weeks of the campaign, and his post-season comments were widely interpreted as a farewell announcement. A portion of the Rossoneri fanbase has already concluded that the time for a parting of ways has come, and the player himself seems to be leaning towards a new adventure. But without offers from the Premier League or La Liga, the options are narrowing.
Leão in Australia: The Most Delicate Chapter
The scenario taking shape is this: if no concrete transfer news emerges in the next few days, Leão will join Milan’s pre-season tour of Australia, with the squad’s departure scheduled for around 28 July. It will be fascinating to see how Amorim handles the situation — a player keen to leave who is training with the squad inevitably creates complicated dynamics, both for the manager and for his teammates.
As covered in our recent piece on AC Milan’s summer departure plan, Leão is one of the central names in the Rossoneri’s outgoing transfer activity this summer. How he is managed over the coming weeks will be one of the defining storylines of the Rossoneri summer.
Galatasaray or Premier League: What Will Happen?
The roads ahead of Leão are essentially two: accept Turkey — with a significantly higher salary but a less prestigious league — or stay at Milan while waiting for an offer from England or Spain, risking a difficult season. Milan, for their part, have every interest in finding a solution that rewards the player financially while freeing up resources to reinvest in the transfer market. Time is running out.
