26 May 2026 17:31 BST |
4 min read
AC Milan are cleaning house this summer, and Rafael Leao is being pushed to Manchester United as a result.
The Rossoneri are officially in crisis mode after slipping out of the Champions League spots due to a final-day defeat to Cagliari on Sunday. Milan will only play Europa League football next term despite spending most of the season in Serie A’s top four.
Performances in recent weeks have been nothing short of pathetic, leaving the San Siro giants with no one but themselves to blame for this latest calamity. The first stage of what is bound to be an almighty reckoning has already been completed.
On Monday, RedBird Capital, the club’s ownership, responded to the “unequivocal failure” of this season with four unceremonious sackings: Massimiliano Allegri (head coach), Giorgio Furlani (CEO), Igli Tare (sporting director) and Geoffrey Moncada (technical director) were all axed.
RedBird is planning for a “comprehensive reorganisation of football operations,” which will also include the playing personnel. “Many will leave,” according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Leao is finished at Milan
One of the club’s most marketable assets is Rafael Leao, who is no longer untouchable after two disappointing seasons. He was previously handed a €175 million release clause, but Milan will now look to sell for just €40m to €50m.
It has been known for weeks that the Rossoneri will look to part with the Portugal international. Besides his performances, his attitude has also come under scrutiny, with Leao having struggled to come to grips with the fact that he is no longer Milan’s invincible talisman.
Because of the lack of Champions League revenues, Milan will almost certainly try to offload Leao. In recent days, it has been claimed that Man Utd have “reactivated” their long-standing interest in the 26-year-old.
Signing him for €50m would be a risk, judging by his last two seasons, but he remains a game-changer on his day. If the move works out, it could be a shrewd piece of business. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) currently stands at €63.6m, so Man Utd would be getting a nice discount.
However, more clubs are keen on him. Fenerbahce have been associated with a move for weeks, though they recently experienced similar levels of upheaval as Milan, with the incumbent president calling for new elections and sacking coach Domenico Tedesco and director Devin Ozek.
The outcome of the presidential election won’t be known until early July, so this Leao saga could drag on for quite a while. This delay could prove fatal, as hated rivals Galatasaray have now also entered the picture for Leao.
The Istanbul giants are said to be ready to almost double the winger’s current salary of €5.5m by paying him €10m annually. The outcome of this transfer battle remains open, but Leao appears to be more out than in at Milan at this stage.
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