When Rafael Leao looks at the Maradona stadium, he smiles. He has several memories tied to Napoli’s stadium: his outstanding performance with an assist to Giroud in a Champions League quarter-final or his brace in the emphatic 4-0 victory in April 2023. Sunday's match will be a special challenge for the Portuguese forward because he has no intention of missing out on next season’s Champions League.
Rafael Leao's numbers:
When it comes to Rafael Leao, numbers matter—even in the most challenging seasons: 6 goals and 7 assists, always decisive in the league. But even more significant are the numbers related to his contract: the Portuguese star is tied to Milan until 2028, with a deliberately exaggerated 150 million euros release clause that even the Saudi clubs cannot meet. And this is precisely where discussions about his future arise: Milan’s number 10 is admired by many, but no one has come close to triggering the clause.
Chelsea keen...
If Saudi Arabia already came knocking in January for Leao without success, the biggest threat now comes from England: Chelsea has been evaluating for months the possibility of making an offer for the Portuguese international. Milan’s intention is to continue with Rafa, with or without Champions League qualification. The Blues will try to leverage Jorge Mendes’ influence, but they are fully aware that the Rossoneri would not even open initial talks for their star unless an offer of at least 100 million euros is on the table.
Source: Calciomercato.com
