AC Milan must tackle the renewal of Rafael Leao in the coming months and it will not be a straightforward negotiation, a report claims.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Milan have now understood that in order to solve the Leão case they must first untie the knot related to the Sporting CP saga. The story dates back to the spring of 2018, when the then-teenager fled the club due to an aggressive protest from ultras.
That free transfer to Lille was then punished by the Portuguese courts with a hefty fine of €16m, which then became €19m with interest. Executives of the Portuguese club have stalled after the attempts at a settlement made by Leao’s lawyers in the last year.
Sporting CP had also agreed to €14m, just to have all the money right away. Instead, the player was very clear with Milan: he doesn’t want to pay out a single euro. It is one of the many aspects that are blocking the resolution of his future.
Leao is paying in person, given that the Milan court in recent months authorised Sporting CP to collect one fifth of his current salary which is €1.5m net per season. In the meantime, Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara have met Leão several times, but they have not been able to finalise a deal.
Leao has told Milan that he wants to stay for a long time, but in recent times he has increased his requests to €7m net per season and asks that the Rossoneri share the cost of the Sporting fine with Lille.
It is a request that Milan want to satisfy at most with a cash advance, thus obtaining the player’s payment in the years to come.
Another obstacle is the representatives of Leao. Jorge Mendes remains his agent, but a French lawyer holds the winger’s power of attorney and asks to act exclusively. Paolo Maldini’s confidence in the renewal is obviously fuelled by Leao’s intentions, but there are knots to untangle while Chelsea and Manchester City watch on.
