With the takeover process now complete and the summer window in the books, Milan will concretely re-engage the talks to prolong the contract of Rafael Leao. His present one expires in 2024, forcing the Rossoneri to act sooner rather than later.
As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the negotiation will not be quick. The hefty fine the star has to pay to Sporting CP looms large. The Scudetto winner expects to be asked to contribute to settling the €9M sanction. Moreover, there’s a divide within the camp of the Portuguese ace. He’s handled by multiple agents and not just Jorge Mendes.
The Leao extension is bound to re-set the bar at Milan in terms of wages. He will demand no less than €7M per year, matching what Zlatan Ibrahimovic was making in the past, when he was by far the highest-paid player on the roster. He would earn significantly more than the other linchpins that have re-upped in recent months, such as Theo Hernandez and Fikayo Tomori.
On the other hand, differently from other players, the Rossoneri can benefit from fiscal savings on the attacker’s deal, and that works in his favor. At those numbers, the gross cost would amount to €10,5M annually. The club received some inquiries during the summer, primarily from Chelsea and PSG. But there were serious conversations about his departure, the publication informs.
Our Take on the Talks Between Leao and Milan
It’s very early in the new regime, but this matter is a crucial turning point already. If RedBird Capital decides to raise the wages bill, that would signify a change of direction compared to recent years, and also grand plans for the future.
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