In a season in which the most expensive signing in Milan's history, Gonçalo Ramos, who cost €73.1 million, is analysed every three days, it was Diego Moreira who stole the show in the derby. In one night, although one could quite comfortably say in three months, he erased the memory of Rafa Leao, on the very day after the former Rossoneri number 10 scored his first goal in a Galatasaray shirt.
The Belgian, a fact that perhaps went somewhat unnoticed, is the second record signing not only of Gerry Cardinale's summer 2026 transfer window, but of the entire Rossoneri history, ahead of Leao himself, ironically enough. Moreira has in fact cost €2 million more so far: the €51.3 million invested by Milan to officially sign him from Strasbourg on 19 August, compared to the €49.5 million recorded on the books for Leao, who was signed from Lille by Paolo Maldini in 2019 for €29.5 million. That figure subsequently increased by €20 million in 2023, when the dispute between Leao and Sporting Lisbon was settled, the club the forward had left on a free transfer in 2018.
However, Moreira could cost Milan considerably more and, in that case, these would certainly be funds spent gladly by Cardinale & Co, given that they would be bonuses triggered by the winger's positive performances (goals and assists above all, followed by appearances), objectives achieved by the team (the Scudetto, qualification for the Champions League and even the Europa League), and future contract renewals (a maximum of two). All in all, Moreira, who signed a five-year contract worth €3 million per season, could be worth as much as an additional €16.5 million to Milan if all the bonuses were triggered, taking the player's historical cost to €67.8 million, as pointed out via Tuttosport in this morning's print edition.
A figure, €67 million, that brings another one to mind and intertwines with another story from Saturday evening's derby. Before the match, in fact, Ricardo Kaka was honoured after being inducted into the Rossoneri Hall of Fame. The Brazilian wore the number 22 shirt, the one Moreira has chosen today, and was sold to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 for... €67 million.
"Whether I have done his shirt justice? You would have to ask him, but I hope he liked my performance and that of the team," Moreira told TeleLombardia during the night. "It was a special night for everyone. We won, I provided two assists and scored a goal in front of Kaka. It was an honour."
Milan would be over the moon if Moreira were to repeat even half of what the Brazilian achieved during his seven seasons at the club. He has certainly made a flying start, quickly making everyone forget Leao. In just six league appearances, four of them as a starter, the 22-year-old Belgian has already provided three assists, two in the derby and one against Atalanta, both for Rabiot, and scored four goals: a decisive brace in the 2-2 draw against Lazio, the final goal in the 3-0 win over Lecce and, of course, the winning free-kick against Inter.
During his first Serie A campaign in 2019-20, at the age of 20, Leao needed 24 matches to score four goals, while his first assist did not arrive until after 28 appearances.
