The three reasons Barcelona want to sign Rafael Leao

Muhammad Butt

Updated: 22 Aug 2024 10:11 BST
5 min read

Barcelona want to end their summer with a bang by signing Portuguese forward Rafael Leao from AC Milan.

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Barcelona missed out on Nico Williams earlier in the summer as the young Spaniard chose to stay at Athletic Club instead of make the move to Catalunya. They have since switched their attention to other left-wingers including Federico Chiesa and Kingsley Coman, but one man remains top of their wishlist:

Rafael Leao.

The 25 year-old Portuguese winger has been AC Milan's star man for the last five years, and has grown into a borderline world-class winger with immense stature plus a charisma and flair that is rare in the game these days.

As he is represented by super agent Jorge Mendes, Rafael Leao has been linked with many top clubs over the years, though to this point he has remained loyal to Milan. But now Barcelona want to test that loyalty, and one thing in their advantage is club president Joan Laporta's excellent relationship with Mendes.

If Barcelona can convince Mendes to facilitate a move, then the Portuguese agent has so many players at his disposal (including Ansu Fati, a player Barcelona would be comfortable moving on and who plays the same position as Rafael Leao does) that things could heat up.

Rafael Leao: a perfect signing

Signing Rafael Leao would be perfect for Barcelona, too. With his pace and dribbling skill, the 25 year-old would slot seamlessly into that left-wing role the Blaugrana had earmarked for Nico Williams.

Rafael Leao has the speed Barcelona are craving, and is an even more efficient dribbler than Williams. He completed 79/157 take-ons last season at a 50.3% success rate, compared to Williams' 87/194 at 44.8% success.

Leao also had more progressive passes (126 to 66) than Nico Williams, more shot creating actions (144 to 122), a higher xAG figure (9.3 to 5.7) and he scored more goals (9 to 5) though both men under-shot their xG (11.0 to 6.1).

© IMAGO - Nico Williams chose to stay with Athletic Club rather than join Lamine Yamal at Barcelona.

His idol also happens to be Barcelona legend Ronaldinho. Rafael Leao plays with a swagger and joy to his game that recalls the brilliant Brazilian's best days at Barcelona, so putting Leao in Blaugrana makes perfect sense.

Rafael Leao is statistically and stylistically sublime for Barcelona.

But that's not why they want to sign him!

The three RIDICULOUS reasons Barcelona want to sign Rafael Leao

It sounds preposterous. The sporting case for Rafael Leao is clear, but the actual reasons Barcelona want to sign him have nothing to do with that.

Fernando Polo has reported in Mundo Deportivo that there are three main reasons that Barcelona want to sign Rafael Leao:

1. Real Madrid just signed Kylian Mbappé

After many years of waiting, 2024 was the summer Real Madrid finally landed their man and secured the signing of Kylian Mbappé.

The Frenchman joined for free (and a colossal signing bonus) and adds to Madrid's already glittering attack with Vini Jr., Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham.

Barcelona want to compete, and while Lamine Yamal is a superstar in the making and Robert Lewandowski remains an enduring icon, Joan Laporta would like a third stud in the front-line to match Madrid's superstardom.

2. A big signing would attract crowds to the Spotify Camp Nou

Though they spent the last season at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic, Barcelona are aiming to return to the remodeled Spotify Camp Nou at some point around the middle of the season.

Even if it won't be at max capacity yet, the Camp Nou will still be a bigger stadium than the Montjuic, and so Barcelona will need big crowds to fill the seats and the hype and buzz of a signing like Rafael Leao will help do that. Much as Lewandowski and Raphinha did in 2022.

Rafael Leao is also young and cool enough to increase Barcelona's media profile, something Laporta values highly.

3. Barcelona's Presidential elections are coming

We are two years away from Barcelona's next Presidential elections in summer 2026. As a result, Joan Laporta knows he has to start making serious moves to elevate the level of the Barcelona squad in order to have a strong case for re-election.

The financial issues that have hamstrung Barcelona for all of Laporta's presidency may only just be coming to an end in the run-up to the elections. Thus Laporta knows it is imperative that the squad is in rude health so that his opponents in the race (whoever they may be) cannot attack Laporta for not doing anything during his five year Presidential term.

It is an incredibly self-serving reason. But then all three of these reasons are patently ridiculous and besides the point. Nothing sums up quite where Barcelona are at right now than Joan Laporta and his team wanting to sign Rafael Leao for all the wrong reasons instead of all the right ones.

That's assuming they can even get AC Milan to agree to a deal, or find a way to finance a deal without returning to the hallowed 1:1 financial fair play status (where they can spend €1 for every €1 they bring in).

The tough times have not yet ended for FC Barcelona.