Rafael Leão does not reject the proposal from Aston Villa despite his preference for Manchester United.

Rafael Leão does not rule out the possibility of moving to Aston Villa, despite continuing to prefer Manchester United, which has “long dominated” his list of preferences. The Portuguese forward from AC Milan sees the English club as “extremely ambitious” and values the presence of coach Unai Emery as a decisive factor.

Aston Villa has been active in the transfer market, signing João Gomes and Johan Manzambi to strengthen their midfield for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, the club has already lost Donyell Malen, Youri Tielemans, and Morgan Rogers, the latter transferred to Chelsea for around 117 million euros, a sum that could create space for new signings, especially in attack, where Emery has demanded a significant reinforcement.

According to the Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset, interest in Leão arose during negotiations for Pervis Estupiñán's transfer to Aston Villa. The English club took the opportunity to inquire about the forward's situation, indicating that they are attentive to the possibility of signing him. AC Milan is reportedly open to negotiating Leão for amounts between 42 and 50 million euros, at a time when Tottenham Hotspur is also showing interest.

Leão, who played 31 matches last season, scored ten goals and provided three assists across all competitions, despite several absences due to injuries, remains a top preference for Manchester United, but he is not closing the door on a move to Aston Villa. The Portuguese forward values the club's ambition and the project led by Emery, making the Villans' offer a viable option.

This situation positions Leão as a key figure in this summer's transfer market, with Aston Villa looking to address the offensive needs that have arisen following recent departures. The completion of this deal could be crucial for the English club's ambition to enhance its competitiveness in the Premier League.