Lille stop Rafa Leao joining Chelsea or Man Utd

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 3 May 2023 17:48 BST
• 3 min read

Rafa Leao appears destined to stay at AC Milan and sign a new contract this summer as, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Lille are now likely to pay the forward's €22 million fine.

This money refers to the compensation that Leao owes to former club Sporting Lisbon.

The forward was ordered to pay Sporting €16.5m after losing a court case over breach of contract. That sum has now increased to €22m with inflation.

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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 wants the club who he signs his new contract with to pay this compensation.

Leao’s contract at San Siro expires in 2024, and the problem over his compensation owed to Sporting has been a key reason why he still hasn’t signed a renewal.

The case has been in and out of the courts in recent years, but last month it was confirmed that Lille are responsible for paying the fine.

Gazzetta is confident that Lille will fulfil this request imminently.

Rafa Leao to sign new Milan contract

If that happens then Leao will almost certainly extend his Milan contract.

That puts to an end the hopes of Chelsea and Man Utd of signing Leao this summer.

Chelsea have been considered the favourites for his signature if he does leave, with Man Utd also heavily linked.

In the event of the contract not being extended, Milan (https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/teams/it/milan) will sell him this summer to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year.