Reports in Italy claim that Rafael Leao has not convinced head coach Ruben Amorim and that Milan’s asking price for the Portugal international has come down even further, potentially to a figure below €50m.
Leao price tag in free fall
Leao’s future has been up in the air all summer. At the end of the 2025-26 season, the 27-year-old had made it clear that he felt this was the right time to move on and try a new experience abroad, ideally in the Premier League or LaLiga.
With two years remaining on his contract, Milan were aware that this might be the right time to sell as well, avoiding a situation where Leao’s price tag drops significantly when he enters the final year of his contract next summer.
However, as things stand, Leao has not received any concrete proposals from the Premier League or LaLiga as he had hoped, and with just over a fortnight of the summer transfer window remaining, it remains unclear where he will be playing his football this coming season.
On Thursday, it was reported that recently-appointed Milan head coach Amorim had drawn up a list of players he thinks the club should sell this summer.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – AUGUST 08: Head coach Ruben Amorim of AC Milan looks on during the pre-season friendly between Chelsea FC and AC Milan at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images)
The players who ended up on that list included Christopher Nkunku, Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana and David Odogu, but Leao, Santiago Gimenez and Pervis Estupinan could also be moved on if appropriate offers come in.
Reports from Sky Sport Italia on Friday maintain the stance that Amorim would be happy to keep Leao on board in 2026-27, but that he would also not be opposed to his sale under the right conditions either.
The Rossoneri had originally been seeking a fee in the region of €60m to sell Leao this summer, which has been cited as €50m-€60m more recently, and Sky’s report on Friday claims that Milan could even begin listening to offers as low as €40m-€45m.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Rafael Leao of AC Milan makes a run towards goal during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
This is a significant drop off from the €175m release clause that the club had written into the player’s last contract extension.
The latest complication is the fact that Leao has reported a muscular injury, which rules him out of Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Manchester United and also puts him at risk of missing the Serie A season opener against Torino next Sunday.