AC Milan discover themselves in a transitional part following the departures of head coach Stefano Pioli and membership legend-turned-sporting director Paolo Maldini. Whereas USMNT star Christian Pulisic has settled seamlessly in Serie A, different key gamers, together with Portuguese winger Rafael Leao, are reportedly rising uneasy below the management of recent coach Paulo Fonseca. This discontent has sparked rumors linking Leao to FC Barcelona.
At present sitting eighth within the 2024-25 Serie A standings, Milan are struggling to adapt to Fonseca’s imaginative and prescient. Established stars comparable to Theo Hernandez, Davide Calabria, and Leao have been underperforming, including gas to hypothesis about potential departures. Among the many events is Barcelona, which is reportedly contemplating Leao as an answer for his or her left flank.
In keeping with Spanish outlet Marca, Barcelona view Leao as a chief goal to bolster their attacking choices. With uncertainty surrounding Ansu Fati’s future and Nico Williams‘ switch deemed unlikely attributable to his excessive price ticket and fierce competitors, Leao has emerged as a viable various.
Nonetheless, buying the $75M-rated Leao (valuation per Transfermarkt) could be removed from simple. Whereas studies counsel the participant is open to a transfer, Barcelona’s ongoing struggles with wage caps and Monetary Honest Play (FFP) rules stay important hurdles.
Jorge Mendes: A key ally for Barcelona
A possible game-changer on this pursuit is Leao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, who maintains a powerful relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Mendes, who additionally represents Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, might play a pivotal function in smoothing negotiations for Leao’s potential arrival.
Financially, Barcelona might achieve leverage by means of current developments, together with their renewed Nike sponsorship deal till 2038 and a proposed sale of VIP seats on the revamped Spotify Camp Nou to a Qatari firm. These measures might bolster their capacity to compete within the switch market.
Leao, whose contract with AC Milan runs till June 2028, stays a cornerstone of the Rossoneri venture regardless of present uncertainties. Any potential switch to Barcelona would seemingly be a long-term proposition, ruling out a transfer in the course of the January switch window. Nonetheless, Leao stays excessive on Barcelona’s radar as they plan for future seasons.
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