Updated: 12 May 2026 16:16 BST |
5 min read
Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has urged the club to approach AC Milan over the possibility of a lucrative swap deal which would see Rafael Leao move to Old Trafford this summer.
Leao joined Milan from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP in 2019 and quickly became one of the most promising wingers in the world, scoring 16 goals in a side which reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2022-23.
However, the 26-year-old has been unable to replicate that form in recent seasons, so much so that Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport claim Milan are considering selling the Portugal international at the end of the season.
One man who thinks United could be a great destination for Leao is Stam, who has floated the idea of Marcus Rashford heading to Milan once the England international’s loan spell at Barcelona comes to an end.
After being frozen out by then-United boss Ruben Amorim, Rashford joined the La Liga giants on a season-long loan last summer, with the 28-year-old going on to help Hansi Flick’s side clinch a second successive league title in 2025-26.
However, while Barcelona hold the option to sign Rashford on a permanent basis for €30million (£26m), The Athletic are reporting that the club have cooled their interest in concluding a deal.
In quotes carried by The Metro, via ComeOn, Stam – who made 127 appearances for United between 1998 and 2002 – said: “Maybe a swap between Rafael Leao and Marcus Rashford could work.
“Leao is also a good player. He has shown his potential at Milan, of course, in what he can do. I think he is a player that should be on the list of targets for Manchester United.
“Having said that, you need to have a look not only at the skill of a player, but also at the mentality of players. You need to consider the situation where the club is, what player they are bringing in that is going to help the club going forward, so that you don’t get any irritations from players who are not being picked to start.
“We’ve seen that that can create a kind of a stir within the dressing room. So you need to have a look at the personality of players, at the whole picture, and what’s the best player to bring into the club.
“It feels very exciting to bring in these types of players, but you don’t need to look at what’s the best for right now, you need to look at long-term projects and what’s very important for the club.”
While Rashford will hope to add to the 14 goals he has scored for Barcelona when they travel to Alavas in their next league outing on Wednesday, Leao – meanwhile – will be hoping to find the back of the net for the first time since March when Milan head to Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.
Analysis: United do not appear to need Leao this summer
With Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu in their ranks, United do not have an obvious need to sign Leao, despite the winger scoring a respectable nine goals in Serie A this season.
As Casemiro prepares to depart when his contract expires at the end of the season, it makes sense that United focus on strengthening their midfield this summer – a position which they deem to be a priority, according to BBC Sport.
Rashford, meanwhile, has more than played his part in Barcelona’s title-winning campaign, with Raphinha having struggled with injuries this season, but it remains to be seen whether Flick’s side will take up their option to sign him permanently, such has been their financial struggles in recent years.
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