Real Madrid have reportedly been offered the chance to sign 22-year-old Portuguese forward Rafael Leao from Serie A giants AC Milan.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Rafael Leao is ready to call it quits at AC Milan in the summer transfer window and has asked his agent Jorge Mendes to look for a new club for him. As a result, Real Madrid have been offered a chance to sign the 22-year-old forward.
Leao joined AC Milan from LOSC Lille in the summer of 2019 and has since been an inconsistent performer for the Rossoneri. This past season, the Portuguese forward did show flashes of brilliance and just how well he can perform at his very best. However, all that was swiftly followed by bouts of dreadful performances.
As a result, it is hardly surprising that the 22-year-old had an unconvincing tally of seven goals and six assists in 40 appearances across all competitions. Leao is now desperate to leave AC Milan after failing to establish himself as a regular at San Siro, and his agent Jorge Mendes has offered him to Real Madrid.
It is no secret that Real Madrid are in the market for attacking reinforcements, having been heavily linked with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. However, amid financial struggles borne out of the coronavirus pandemic, Los Blancos might not be able to afford either player this summer, which is why they have been scouring the market for cost-effective alternatives.
At the same time, agents have sensed an opportunity for their clients, offering them to the Spanish heavyweights. As a result, Anthony Martial is among the players who have been offered to Real Madrid this summer, with Leao falling in the same category.
However, as was the case with Martial, Real Madrid have politely declined the chance to sign the 22-year-old AC Milan forward. That is because they could not justify an outlay between €30 million and €40 million to swoop him away from the Serie A giants this summer, owing to his sub-par return this past season.
AC Milan, on their part, are unwilling to offload the Leao, meaning a move might never have seen the light of the day anyway. What now remains to be seen is if the Portuguese forward ends up staying put at San Siro, or if he can push for a summer exit. What does appear to be certain is that Real Madrid will not make a move for him, with targets like Timo Werner in their view.