Milan Patience About Leao Antics Starting to Wear Thin

Rafael Leao didn’t take his early substitution against Lazio well and made it public while leaving the pitch, which didn’t please Massimiliano Allegri or the Milan hierarchy. He had also repeatedly protested against his teammates’ choices, especially Christian Pulisic’s.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Rossoneri have halted the extension talks after some exploratory contacts. Their brass isn’t so sure about building their project around him, considering his attitude and his so-so numbers relative to his salary and status within the squad.

While an extension wouldn’t have necessarily guaranteed his permanence, Milan are more open to evaluating the offers for Leao than in the past. On the other hand, their price tag, around €70M, is a lot higher than what the market thinks of him. The Portuguese snubbed the Saudi Pro League in the past, and their interest seems to have cooled off. Bayern Munich had inquired while searching for a winger, but quickly moved on.

Per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the two stars made up the day after. However, the Rossoneri expect more from the 26-year-old. Should they ever receive a major bid, it won’t be discarded without properly weighing it. The front office would be particularly keen on RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa, who has a €35M valuation, if they were to sign a winger.

Our Take on Milan and Leao

A new contract without a pay rise was an unlikely proposition. His numbers and seesawing performances are the same as ever. Perhaps the staff expected a leap in a different role, but he’s never been a goal poacher. A minor incident won’t affect his future, but the pairing with Pulisic surely isn’t working. If they splurge on a no.9, they’ll have to pick between the two or use a trident consistently.