“Rafael Leão closer to leaving Milan but Amorim is waiting.”

Rafael Leão remains at a crossroads at Milan, with the exit he desired at the end of May not materializing. Although the Portuguese international winger expressed a willingness to embrace a new challenge in Europe, the Rossoneri have yet to receive any formal offers for the player. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Leão is expected to report in about ten days to begin pre-season training under Rúben Amorim, the coach who is waiting for him to join the squad.

At 26 years old and under contract until 2028, Rafael Leão has lost prominence at Milan over the past two seasons. His inconsistent performance, combined with injuries and tactical decisions that kept him out of the starting eleven, have affected his influence. Under the management of Paulo Fonseca, Sérgio Conceição, and more recently, Massimiliano Allegri, Leão has often been used as a center forward, failing to regain the form he showed in the 2021/22 season, when he was a key player in the Rossoneri's Italian title win.

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Milan officials admit they are open to negotiating the player, targeting a fee between 50 and 60 million euros — a figure significantly lower than the 100 million rejected in 2022 from a proposal by Chelsea. However, so far, no interested parties have come forward to pursue a transfer. The 2026 World Cup has done little to change the situation. Leão had positive moments, such as the goal against Uzbekistan and the assist for Gonçalo Ramos against Croatia, but his overall performance was not enough to attract the interest of major European clubs.

Barcelona and Manchester United have gathered information about the Portuguese player, but have not moved forward with formal negotiations. The possibility of heading to Turkey or Saudi Arabia also seems unlikely, despite the financial capabilities of clubs like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Besiktas. Rafael Leão does not consider these destinations a priority, keeping the Premier League as his preference, with Aston Villa emerging as a possibility, especially after their qualification for the Champions League and their financial capacity. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the English club's officials will be willing to invest in a player who is currently experiencing a less successful phase in his career.

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Without concrete proposals, Leão is expected to fully participate in Milan's pre-season training in Australia. The club is not considering isolating him from training, aware that this could further devalue one of their most important assets. This situation also has a direct impact on the rossoneri's market, as they remain interested in Konstantinos Karetsas, a young attacking midfielder from Genk valued at around 40 million euros. However, the realization of this signing depends on the sale of Rafael Leão, who, for now, remains in Milan.

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