Rafa Leao REJECTS two European giants

Carlo Garganese

• 26 Apr 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Rafa Leao has rejected a summer transfer to Chelsea and Real Madrid and plans to sign a new contract at AC Milan.

That is according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which reports that Leao has told the two European giants he won't be joining them.

Gazzetta says that Leao's agent Jorge Mendes has been in talks with Chelsea and Madrid over a move there but the attacker only wants to stay at Milan.

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Rafa Leao wants to stay at Milan

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

Gazzetta says that salary is not an issue with both sides pretty much agreed on a raise to €7 million per year.

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

The forward has been ordered to pay Sporting €19.5m 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 wants the club who he signs his new contract with to pay this compensation.

Nevertheless, Gazzetta reports that Leao is determined to find a solution as he only wants Milan.

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 has found his form again in April to take Milan past Napoli and into the Champions League semi final where they will play Inter Milan.

If Milan are unable to agree a new contract by the end of the summer transfer market, they are likely to sell Leao to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year.