Rafael Leao has become one of the biggest up-and-coming stars in world football as the Milan player goes from strength to strength.
The 23-year-old is a quick winger but his unorthodox 6ft 2in build is what makes him a unique talent. He frame gives him more strength and power when taking defenders on and dribbling past them.
Leao’s exciting style of play and potential to hone his end product even more has made him a target for several clubs who are fighting for domestic and European titles.
The Sporting News looks at Leao’s career so far and where he could play in the near future.
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Rafael Leao transfer news
Leao is wanted by many teams, but one reason for uncertainty around his future has been his situation with former club Sporting Lisbon.
The forward ended his deal at the club in 2018 after a mob of the club’s fans broke into the training ground and attacked players, joining French side Lille.
Sporting complained to FIFA over his move to Lille and claimed they were owed his £37.7m ($46.9m) release clause.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Leao would owe Sporting £13.8m ($17.3m) for a breach of contract. His subsequent appeal failed.
Lille have now agreed to pay around £17.1m ($21.3m) to Sporting, according to GFFN, which says that Leao remains responsible for paying them around £872,000 ($1.1m). The report adds that Milan will reimburse Lille 90% of the fee.
Chelsea, who have been very busy in the market since Todd Boehly took over as owner in early 2022, were reportedly ready to pay the original amount owed to Sporting in order to bring Leao to Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool have been linked with the winger, as have Real Madrid as they look to add another winger to their squad. Marco Asensio’s contract will expire in June, while Eden Hazard’s future at the club is in doubt as the Belgium international struggles for form and fitness.
Rafael Leao Milan contract renewal
Leao’s contract had been set to expire in June 2024, but Milan director Paolo Maldini stated in May 2023 that the club were close to agreeing an extension with the young star.
Milan director Paolo Maldini confirms: “We are close to complete agreement to extend Rafael Leão’s contract, it’s true” 🚨🔴⚫️ #ACMilan
“We have the same plan with Rafa, we both want to continue together”, tells Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/lhrwC0wrRg
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 10, 2023
Multiple sources then reported that Leao had signed a new deal until 2028, with the player earning close to £7m ($8.7m) per year.
His release clause was increased from around £131m ($163m) to £148m ($184.5m), according to Sport Italia, via Football Italia, with Lille said to be due 15% of any future transfer fee.
Rafael Leao stats, clubs played for
Leao began his career in his home country with Sporting, emerging from their youth ranks before making his senior debut for the club in February 2018.
He became the youngest player to score for the club with a goal against Porto that season but left shortly afterwards, having terminating his contract following the training ground incident.
He then joined Lille in Ligue 1 for a season, excelling under the management of current Paris St-Germain coach Christophe Galtier. He helped Lille finish second in the league that season alongside the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Loic Remy.
Milan saw enough in the winger to sign him for around £30.5m ($38m), along with a 20% sell-on clause. Since making his debut for the Rossoneri on August 25, 2019, Leao has become increasingly influential for the Italian giants, with his two assists against Napoli in the Champions League quarterfinals taking his total in all competitions in 2022/23 to 13 goals and 13 assists.
Leao has also scored three goals in 18 senior games for Portugal.
| Team | Games | League goals | Cup goals | Champions League | Europa League | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Lille | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Milan | 159 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 39 |
| Total | 189 | 44 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 49 |
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Rafael Leao injury history
Leao missed the first leg of Milan’s Champions League semifinal against city rivals Inter with an adductor injury, but the livewire is not a regular absentee through physical issues.
That injury was his first of the season, and he only picked up one in 2021/22, missing five games in December 2021. Leao has missed 16 games through injury so far in his Milan career – two were through Covid – so he’ll average four matches out each season, should he not miss any more in 2022/23.
He was out for close to three months soon after his Sporting debut with a muscle injury, but he has not been injured for more than a month since then.