For four years, Milan has been playing in the Champions League, but the risk of being excluded from the most important competition this year is high. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, if this were to happen, sacrifices on the transfer market might be necessary, and the main candidate to leave is Rafael Leao.
The Portuguese player experiences highs and lows, both on the pitch and in his relationship with the fans, to whom he has responded multiple times in the past with eloquent gestures. His contract expires in 2028, but what ties him to the Diavolo is a strong bond, not just a multimillion-dollar agreement. He has grown as both a footballer and a man at Milan, but it remains to be seen what he will decide to do at the end of the season.
What about the situations of Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan at Milan?
Their situations are delicate. In fact, both have contracts expiring on June 30, 2026. For the goalkeeper, there is already an agreement in place for an extension at €5 million net per year, but his recent mistakes and the wait for a new sporting director have stalled negotiations. Talks with the left-back, on the other hand, have been at a standstill for some time. In any case, his departure would guarantee a significant capital gain.
There are also other players who could be sold to generate funds. Malick Thiaw is liked by Bayer Leverkusen, but within Milan, the preference would be to sell those less involved in the tactical project, such as Fikayo Tomori, who could give his approval for a summer departure. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been injured for a long time, earns 4 million euros net, and it needs to be determined whether he can genuinely be useful to the cause.
The same applies to Samuel Chukwueze, while Emerson Royal has a lower salary. Finally, without European football, it is highly unlikely that Alessandro Florenzi will be offered a contract renewal.
