Regarding Rafael Leao's legal dispute with Sporting Lisbon is still the talk of the media, especially in recent hours as a report from Record explained that Lille should cover the fine that should be paid to the Portuguese club. The renewal of his contract, which expires on June 30, 2024 with the Rossoneri, also depends on the fine imposed on him by international courts of 16.5 million euros (plus interest, bringing it to about 20 million euros) as compensation to Sporting Lisbon for unilaterally rescinding his contract without just cause and then signing with Lille. However, this issue, which seemed to be moving towards a positive conclusion yesterday, could soon face further legal developments.
More recently, O Jogo has reported on Sporting's defense, which is ready to wage new legal battles with FIFA in order to obtain the payment of the 45 million euros. As per the source, the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, which condemned the French club and the player, remained incomplete because it does not define the amount of compensation to be paid by FIFA itself and is awaiting an official response from Zurich. It is precisely this room for maneuver that will lead Sporting to ask FIFA to condemn Lille to pay the entire release clause, which in Leao's old contract was exactly 45 million euros.
This is yet another development in the ongoing Leao saga, which keeps Milan in an inevitable state of limbo. As reported several times, with his new contract, Rafael Leao wants to definitively free himself from this burden, whether it is a renewal or a departure. He wants to obtain those 16.5 million euros plus interest (if he has to pay them) that will put an end to the matter. This is why the news that Lille may pay the fine in full has made the Rossoneri optimistic, and this new development from Portugal could once again shake these certainties.
Source: Calciomercato.com.
