Statements from recent weeks ("I think I've given Milan everything I could give. I want to try a new challenge in a new league") seemed to have drawn a line under Rafael Leão's seven-year spell in a Milan shirt, while his more recent comments have left the door slightly open:
"Amorim is very good; he did well in Portugal. Things didn't go as he wanted at United, but he remains a great coach. I will decide my future after the World Cup."
According to this morning's edition of 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', after the rift that had emerged before his departure for the World Cup, Leão now appears to be trying to repair relations with Milan, who had not taken his farewell remarks well, both because of the timing and the manner in which they were made. With his latest statements, delivered after scoring his first goal of the tournament against Uzbekistan, Rafa attempted to smooth things over. Whether that will be enough remains to be seen. To find out, it will be necessary to wait until the Portuguese forward has completed his commitments with the national team and can begin seriously considering his future.
Milan-Leao: the talk with Amorim will be decisive:
Many things have changed at Milan since Leão made those farewell comments, including the arrival of his fellow countryman Ruben Amorim as head coach. Amorim is expected to speak directly with Leão (and the club's other key players) as soon as the World Cup campaign is over. Their conversation will be crucial in determining whether both sides still share the same objectives, whether the player still wants to move on, and whether Milan's new manager intends to build heavily around him. The rift between Milan and Leão will not be easy to heal, but, as they say, these days anything can happen at the club.
