Rafa Leao ‘signs new AC Milan contract’

Carlo Garganese

• 10 May 2023 15:41 BST
• 3 min read

Rafa Leao is widely reported to have agreed a new five-year contract with AC Milan.

It was unanimously reported in the Italian media on Wednesday afternoon that Leao has agreed a five-year contract until 2028.

Nicolo Schira reports that Leao will earn a salary of €7 million per season, plus a €2m bonus.

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It is expected that the new contract will be officially announced in the coming days.

Rafa Leao agrees to stay at Milan

The news comes as a relief to Milan fans, who feared losing Leao this summer.

Leao's contract at Milan was due to expire in 2024 and the two parties have been in talks for over a year about a renewal.

The biggest hurdle to overcome for a new contract was that Milan were reluctant to pay for the compensation that Leao owes to former club Sporting Lisbon.

The forward has been ordered to pay Sporting €21.5m (including interest) after losing a court case over breach of contract.

Leao walked away from Sporting as a free agent in 2018 after the club’s training ground was invaded by fans, claiming it threatened his safety as an employee.

But Leao lost the legal case and he wanted the club who he signs his new contract with to pay this compensation.

It is not yet clear how this situation will be resolved.

Leao has attracted the interest of a host of top European clubs such as Chelsea, Man Utd and Real Madrid.

News of this contract will come as a blow to them.

Leao was Milan’s key player as they won their first Serie A title in 11 years last season. He was named Serie A Player of the Year, scoring 14 goals and grabbing 12 assists in all competitions.

This term he has been dogged by inconsistency, but found his form again in April to take Milan past Napoli and into the Champions League semi final where they will play Inter Milan.

Leao could miss the first leg at San Siro on Wednesday due to injury.