Rafael Leao's Future at AC Milan: Departure Looms
Rafael Leao is back on the pitch at Milanello, but his future still sits in the departure lounge.
The Portugal international returned to training on Wednesday after 12 days out, rejoining a Milan squad that has already started to imagine life without him. He missed the pre-season friendly against Manchester United and was absent again for the Rossoneri’s Serie A opener against Torino at the weekend.
On paper, he is an AC Milan player. In reality, he is still very much on the market with just one week left in the Serie A transfer window.
Milan move on while Leao waits
Milan have been working on an exit for Leao all summer. The 27-year-old has long spoken about testing himself in the Premier League or LaLiga and, according to club briefings, he indicated that the end of the 2025-26 season would be the right moment to move on.
The club did not wait for that timeline.
Head coach Ruben Amorim has been blunt about the new hierarchy in his attack, recently stating that "Rafa is not important." It was a line that landed heavily, but it matched Milan’s actions. They have already pushed a new face to the front of the project.
Teenage forward Alphadjo Cisse has seized that opening. The youngster scored his first Serie A goal in Milan’s league debut of the 2026-27 campaign over the weekend and has quickly caught the eye of supporters who once sang only for Leao. The shift is clear: the stands are learning a new name.
Yet Leao, dejected in recent images from San Siro and Cremona, remains on the wage bill, training with a team that is preparing to move beyond him.
Market stalemate
Interest has never been the issue. Concrete offers have.
Leao has been linked across Europe, with Aston Villa the latest Premier League club to circle. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Villa have now decided not to move forward with a deal, though other Italian outlets insist the English side have not completely stepped away and remain in the conversation.
Across the continent, Galatasaray are pushing hardest. They have not, however, reached Milan’s valuation. The Italian club are holding firm at €50 million for the winger. Reports on Wednesday suggest the Turkish champions’ latest proposal sits at €42m including bonuses, leaving an €8m gap with the clock ticking.
No agreement, no farewell. Just a player back in training, waiting.
One week to decide everything
The situation is now brutally simple. Milan want a sale at their price. Leao wants his big move. Interested clubs are trying to negotiate that fee down.
Seven days remain.
If no one steps up to meet Milan’s demand, the Rossoneri will head deeper into the season with a star they have already mentally replaced and a dressing room shaped around a new attacking leader.
Does Leao fight his way back into a team that has been told he is “not important,” or does someone finally pay to make this long, uneasy goodbye permanent?
