Chelsea are facing a kidnapping move from Saudi club Al-Hilal, who are reportedly willing to pay £85 million in exchange for Rafael Leao. The AC Milan winger has one of Europe’s most productive strikers in recent years and has been linked with a major cash move from San Siro.
Milan signed Leao from Lille in 2019 after the player progressed through Sporting’s academy. And the 24-year-old has 57 goals and 50 assists in 209 appearances for his current employers.
The player, who has a lot of speed and ability to leave defenders behind, has enjoyed great games in the Champions League and Europa League and played for Portugal at the last World Cup in Qatar. He was also named among the 25-list of Ballon d’Or finalists in 2022.
According to Portuguese media outlet O Jogo, Al-Hilal are looking to sign Leao at the request of their coach Jorge Jesus, who was at Sporting between 2015 and 2018 when Leao was in the club’s youth academy.
Leao’s father, Antonio, is being used as an intermediary between Milan and Al-Hilal, while Portuguese super-agent Mario Rui, who is related to the Saudi royal family, could also act as a liaison with the player’s entourage in the future.
Al-Hilal will offer Milan £85m as an opening offer, and the Italian club have already told interested parties that they will settle for nothing less than their £149m release clause.
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Leao is said to be attracting the attention of many clubs, with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain also vying to sign him.
And last month it reported that Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had met with the Portuguese foreigner’s agent Jorge Mendes, who also represents a variety of other star players.
Chelsea will need to raise huge sums of money to keep Leao away from Italy, as the striker is under contract with Milan until the summer of 2028. But the Blues could end up disappointed, as Leao warned earlier this year that he had no target of leaving. his posición. de return to his current team.
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“This is my home. I love everything. The shopping, the fashion and even the weather, because it’s like in Portugal,” she told Corriere della Sera. “If you think it’s cold, try to go to Lille. And then the food, I love everything related to Italian food. Pasta, risotto, fish. My long career is in Milan, I’m here and I have 4 years left [on my contract ].
“Milan helped me when I was in a very difficult situation and supported me. I won’t forget it. I am faithful. When I arrived I was a child and I grew as a man and as a footballer. I need to win again, my head is here.
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