Rafael Leao and the uncertainty of Milan: future sale impossible?

Rafael Leao's future at AC Milan continues to darken. The player, who recently declared from Portugal that he wanted to take on a "new challenge in a new championship", thus puts pressure on a Milanese management plunged into uncertainty for several weeks. Leao's statements add to the governance crisis which is shaking the club: with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Gerry Cardinale's main advisor, without other solid benchmarks.

Image

These comments come after a disappointing season and raise many questions. Who should manage the sale of the former Lille player? What succession plan to replace him in Milan and, above all, at what price could he really leave? If his release clause still amounts to 175 million euros, his market value has fallen drastically. Leao, who until now earned five million euros per season plus bonus, would today be estimated between 40 and 50 million euros - a far cry from the 100 million refused to Chelsea the day after the Scudetto.

This vagueness, as well as his high salary, make the operation perilous. Interested clubs are waiting for Milan's deep crisis to force a sale at a knockdown price. It would undoubtedly take a notable performance at the next major international tournament, such as the World Cup, to revive his chances of starting at a more advantageous price. Until then, Leao and the Milan are sailing in the fog.

Image