Opportunity for Barça: Rafael Leao seems determined to leave Milan as soon as possible

FC Barcelona seems to have an increasingly favorable outlook regarding the potential signing of Rafael Leao next summer. Although the winger is under contract until 2028 and AC Milan set his release clause at 175 million euros, the acute crisis of the 'rossoneri' could lead to a genuine revolution in their squad by the end of the 2024/25 season. Rafa is currently the main figure of the club, but the forward seems determined to leave as soon as possible.

At least that is what the latest reports from Italy suggest. Leao has already communicated to Jorge Mendes his decision to leave Milan this year, with the option of Barça being the one he prefers the most. The 25-year-old winger had a first approach with the Barcelona management in 2024, although for now there are no negotiations underway. For the culés, the priority is to resolve pending renewals in their squad before defining the roadmap regarding reinforcements. Meanwhile, the relationship between Rafa and those from San Siro continues to deteriorate.

Leao explodes on social media over Milan's crisis

The defeat on Saturday against Lazio (1-2) was the third in a row for the 'rossoneri' in Serie A. The team has collapsed mentally after the surprising elimination in the Champions League against Feyenoord (2-1 on aggregate), although they still have the 'semis' of the Coppa Italia against Inter pending. After the home loss against the Roman side, Leao posted a message on Instagram stories that made clear his distancing from the management and the Milan fans.

"Unfortunately, it is us against everything and everyone. We are working to achieve positive results again, and the group is more united than ever", read the message shared by the Portuguese international. The year started very well for those from San Siro with the winning of the Italian Supercup against Inter (2-1), but Sérgio Conceição's project has collapsed in just two months. The team has fallen to ninth place in the league, 11 points away from the Champions League zone.

In that sense, with the team likely out of Europe next season, Rafa's departure seems inevitable and, moreover, at a lower price, a key factor for Barça's interests. The idea of the culés is to invest between 60 and 80 million euros in their next left winger, with the '10' of Milan being one of the bets that most convinces the Barcelona management. Another player likely to leave the seven-time Champions League winners next summer is Theo Hernández, one of the most criticized after the elimination against Feyenoord for his unusual red card.