The negotiation between Milan and Rafael Leao will be on hold during the World Cup. The Rossoneri will look to find a solution before the summer. Otherwise, they will be forced into a tough spot at the end of the season, as his contract runs out in 2024.
Long-time Mediaset journalist Bruno Longhi was quizzed on the topic by Tuttomercatoweb.
“I think he will stay. The club’s intention is to avoid repeating the strategies that led to the departures on Gianluigi Donnarumma, Hakan Calhanoglu and Franck Kessié. They will make an exception to their rules because they don’t want to lose a champion like him.”
On top of dishing on Leao, the pundit assessed the Milan season in general.
“It’s below expectations because the way they finished in 2021/2022 is still fresh in our minds. They didn’t skip a beat after Inter lost against Bologna. They were irresistible, while they are imperfect now. They are missing Kessié and Davide Calabria. They have trouble imposing their will, differently from the past. They have racked up points, but I anticipated something better, especially from the newcomers.”
Longhi expounded on Charles De Ketelaere.
“I saw him in the past and I would have rolled the dice on him as well. He’s completely different player from the scared kid he’s been so far. He’s very strong, but he hasn’t shown it yet. It surely depends on the acclimatization, which is never easy. Starring for Club Brugge is different from doing so at San Siro. I think his issues are also psychological. If you can’t express your potential, it’s not a technical problem, but rather a mental one.”
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