Milan Transfer Market: Rafael Leao Sticks to His guns; a significant initial offer is on the table

Rafael Leao’s future is once again setting the summer transfer market ablaze. The Portuguese forward, who had already expressed his desire to pursue a new challenge away from Italy on the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup, reaffirmed his intentions during an appearance as a guest on the Brazilian podcast “Podpah,” speaking openly about his ambitions.

Leao’s comments come as the Rossoneri have received their first major offer from Fenerbahçe: The Istanbul-based yellow-and-blue club is reportedly ready to shell out 50 million for the transfer, investing 8 million per season toward the player’s salary—and after seven years with the Rossoneri, he already seems to be speaking as a former player.

““I’d already spoken with the club, making my intentions clear,” said the Portuguese player. “Now I don’t know what will actually happen, and until proven otherwise, I’m under contract with Milan. On the 29th, I’ll return to Milanello, and as long as I’m there, I’ll give it my all: it’s a club that has given me a lot and that I’ll always respect, but in a soccer player’s career, there come moments when you have to consider new ambitions, and I believe that moment has arrived.”

Leao, who among other things thanked Corinthians for allowing him to use their facilities to train during the post-World Cup break, then responded to the criticism he faced during his final stretch with the Rossoneri: “Apart from my first two seasons, I’ve always scored at least ten goals a year at Milan,” he said. “To people, that seems like a small number: if you score eight, they want ten; if you score ten, they want fifteen. Then they see Haaland scoring sixty… but he’s an exception: ten goals in a year is a lot.”