Leão and AC Milan: seven seasons together, but the end is near
Rafael Leão now appears to be heading for the exit door at Milanello. The Portuguese winger, who joined the Rossoneri in the summer of 2019, could be spending his last summer at Milan after seven seasons during which he grew into one of Serie A’s most recognisable talents. The relationship with the club, however, has taken a significant turn for the worse in recent weeks.
The trigger was the now-famous meeting with Gerry Cardinale, from which heavy rumours emerged: the Milan owner reportedly told the left winger in no uncertain terms that he was not part of the club’s future plans. A message that clearly hit the player hard.
Leão’s frustration: “I am not the scapegoat”
According to what has emerged, Rafael Leão is deeply upset by the words attributed to the American owner. Milan’s number 10 acknowledges that his season fell well below expectations — and he admits it — but he firmly rejects the idea that he alone bears responsibility for the team’s disappointing campaign. The message he appears to have sent is clear: everyone underperformed, not just him. And reading Cardinale’s comments, he has understood he is no longer wanted.
A departure now looks almost inevitable. After seven years of highs and lows — including a Serie A title triumph — Leão’s journey in a Rossoneri shirt may have truly reached its end.
Milan value Leão at €50 million: who is in the running?
The fee Milan are asking for the Portuguese star stands at around €50 million. A portion of that sum will be used to plug the financial gap caused by the club’s second consecutive absence from the Champions League, with the rest reinvested in the squad.
Concrete bids matching that figure, however, have yet to materialise. From Turkey, there is genuine interest: both Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have made enquiries and would reportedly be willing to offer the player a significant wage package. Yet the 1999-born forward has other ideas for his future.
Leão’s dream: the Premier League
Despite the financial appeal of the Turkish offers, Leão has his sights set on the Premier League. At 26 — with a CV that includes spells in Portugal with Sporting CP, in France with Lille, and then seven seasons in Italy — the Portuguese playmaker wants to test himself in English football, widely regarded as the most competitive and high-profile league in the world.
In this respect, the summer World Cup represents a crucial showcase: the winger is expected to perform for the Portuguese national team in the hope of attracting serious interest from Premier League clubs, who could come forward with firm offers in the coming weeks.
For the moment, however, no official negotiations with English clubs have been reported. Milan are waiting for a serious bid, while the future of one of Serie A’s most gifted talents in recent years will likely be decided between July and August.
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