Leao followed one of Pioli's suggestions and flew to Portugal near his family before joining the national team. He wanted to celebrate Antonio (his father) on Father's Day and spend a few hours with his closest friends. This was the coach's advice: "Rafa is not at all depressed, but I suggest he stays close to the people who make him happy and help him grow and improve."
As for the renewal, another round of talks is expected to take place this week (or next, at the latest). There could be a personal meeting or another phone call: it is unlikely, however, that the next appointment will lead to an agreement, as pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Rafa's moment suggests that the parties should speed things up and reach an understanding in the final sprint of the season The AC Milan club direcotrs have not lost hope in this possibility. However, part of the entourage continues to work towards an upcoming exit. One factor that further complicates the deal is the price. The value of the player has dropped along with his performance: at his peak, Rafa was worth more than 100 million euros, but in his current form (with only 15 months left until the end of his contract), he is worth less.
The end of the season will provide more clarity on this issue. The Portuguese international will either sign or not start a new season at AC Milan as a free agent. The summer transfer window would be used to sell him to the highest bidder in order to avoid losing him for free, which is a necessity for the club's finances.
The club would then reinvest the funds received from Leao's possible sale, which would be higher if he were to shine again and lower if he were to continue to remain in the shadows.
