La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly joined the race to sign 23-year-old Portuguese international Rafael Leao from AC Milan.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, Rafael Leao is the subject of interest from Barcelona. AC Milan will only sell the Portuguese international if a suitor shells out over €100 million next summer.
Rafael Leao has become one of the hottest properties in Europe during his ongoing stint with AC Milan. The 23-year-old was always brimming with talent and potential but has taken his game up several notches at San Siro. And he has been AC Milan’s talisman since the 2021/22 season when the Rossoneri won the Scudetto.
The Portuguese international became the Serie A MVP on the back of that campaign and has continued to perform well this season. Leao has a decent tally of seven goals and nine assists in 20 appearances thus far this term. And the player’s exploits have captured the attention of several bigwigs, including Barcelona.
Barcelona strengthened the offensive unit in the summer transfer window by signing Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski. But Memphis Depay faces an uncertain future at Spotify Camp Nou. And the Dutch attacker might leave Barcelona in the January transfer window when he wants to depart as a free agent.
In addition, Ferran Torres finds himself in an uncomfortable situation at Camp Nou after falling down the pecking order this season. Leao has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, with the 23-year-old going from strength to strength in Italy. But the Portuguese international will not be a cheap acquisition.
The report claims that AC Milan will only part ways with the 23-year-old if a suitor shells out over €100 million. That sum might be beyond Barcelona’s means, with the Blaugrana still in financial distress. While Barcelona activated several economic levers to funds transfers in the summer, paying €100 million for one player is unlikely.
So other suitors, like Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid, might have the edge in the race to sign Leao. But it will be interesting to see if Barcelona can work the finances around to secure the services of the Portuguese international.
