Milan Transfer Market: Rafa Leao Ready to Turn the Tables
Milan Transfer News: Rafael Leao seems increasingly on the sidelines of the Rossoneri’s plans, despite the arrival of a coach like Ruben Amorim, who is Portuguese like him. The forward is at the center of several transfer rumors, ranging from much-discussed moves to the Premier League—specifically to Chelsea or Manchester City—to a tantalizing potential transfer to Roma to relaunch his career in Serie A. However, he himself seems to be putting the brakes on all these scenarios—at least according to reports coming out of Turkey.
In fact, the Istanbul press reported on Thursday that Leao himself—or at least someone extremely close to him—has presented Milan with a full-blown ultimatum. In short, the Portuguese player reportedly has only two possible outcomes in mind for his extremely complicated summer: staying with the Rossoneri or a move to Turkey—specifically to Galatasaray. The reasons, according to local media, are clear: the forward wants to be certain of which team he’ll play for this season well before the transfer window closes. In particular, he wants to avoid getting caught up in any drawn-out soap operas that might drag on until the end of August. Or even beyond that, considering that the Turkish transfer window closes later than the Italian one.
Behind the scenes in this situation is Jorge Mendes, the Portuguese super-agent who in recent weeks has become the true mastermind of the Rossoneri’s transfer activity. Mendes, who has already helped bring Gonçalo Ramos and Diego Moreira to Milanello, is engaged in a series of talks with the club’s management on multiple fronts, and Leao’s future is naturally at the center of these discussions. Among the options the agent is reportedly exploring is Roma, where sporting director D’Amico is said to have met with Mendes in Rome in recent hours. At Trigoria, the idea of seeing Leao play under Gian Piero Gasperini is considered intriguing, based on the belief that the coach could fully unlock his potential. The main obstacle, however, remains the necessary investment: the transfer fee would be around 45 million euros, to which would be added a salary of close to 7 million net per season.
On the Premier League front, the Chelsea option now seems out of the question, while a decidedly more sensational possibility involving Manchester City is gaining traction. Mendes, who represents both Leao and Ruben Dias, could attempt to broker a deal between the two clubs: the Citizens’ Portuguese center back would be a top-tier reinforcement for Amorim’s defense, with a player-for-player swap and a financial adjustment that would clearly favor the English club. It’s a complex deal, but not impossible under the guidance of the powerful agent.
The Saudi option shouldn’t be overlooked either. Simone Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal has resumed its pursuit in earnest, ready to make a new attempt after Leao had already turned down the chance to move to Saudi Arabia during the World Cup. The Saudi club is reportedly willing to meet Milan’s financial demands and offer the player a salary of around 15 million euros per season: this time, according to rumors, the Portuguese player would think twice before saying no. This signals a softening of the Portuguese player’s stance compared to recent months, when the Premier League seemed to be the only acceptable destination.
Milan, for its part, has already significantly lowered its asking price for its No. 10: while the initial asking price was around 60 million euros, the Rossoneri are now reportedly willing to consider offers ranging from 40 to 45 million. This move effectively reignites negotiations with Galatasaray, which had offered Leao a contract worth 12 million euros net per season—nearly double his current salary—but had stalled precisely over the transfer fee. With this new valuation, the Istanbul club could return to the table with greater determination, making the “take it or leave it” scenario reported by the Turkish press even more plausible.
