Milan were rumored to have hit an insurmountable roadblock in the negotiation with Rafael Leao, but they publicly dismissed the chatter, and the striker rubber-stamped their rebuttal with a tweet.
Despite that, the parties remain distant on multiple aspects, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs. They are at an impasse, if not at a breaking point. While wages seem the easiest part of the equation, the release clause and the fine to Sporting CP are major hindrances.
Thanks bro??♂️
— Rafael Leão (@RafaeLeao7) January 31, 2023
Milan offered €6.5M per year, while the Leao camp asked for €7M annually. The representative of the forward would like the club to contribute to paying the €19M sanction, as Lille refused too, but the officials consider it something that doesn’t concern them.
The release clause has been the main sticking point in recent conversations. The representatives want to lower it to €70/80M. The brass suspect they are seeking a future way out. The directors halted the negotiation for a while, hoping the counterparty would reconsider their stance, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Our Take on Milan and Leao
He never seemed close to leaving in January, but the transfer window being close removes a threat in case the talks really took a turn for the worst. The Rossoneri are right in digging their heels in not allowing an exit clause that might be inferior to his value. On the other hand, it’s a messy situation that does them no favor amid their current woes. Striking a deal in short order would provide a jolt they desperately need.
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