Jorge Mendes Targets Rafael Leao and Ruben Dias Swap for Milan
Jorge Mendes is attempting to pull off one of the most audacious moves of the summer: sending Rafael Leao to Manchester City and bringing Ruben Dias to Milan in a swap-plus-cash deal, according to Sport Mediaset.
Mendes at the heart of Milan’s rebuild
Milan’s mercato increasingly carries one signature. Mendes. The Portuguese super agent has been central to the club’s strategy in recent months, driving the arrivals of new coach Ruben Amorim, striker Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain and, most recently, Diego Moreira from RC Strasbourg.
On this latest front, Mendes reportedly spent the entire afternoon at Casa Milan, the club’s headquarters, working on what would be a seismic defensive upgrade for Amorim’s project.
Leao the key to unlocking Dias
Milan are openly searching for a new solution for Leao. His contract runs until 2028, but the market has not responded as the club hoped: no serious offers have hit the €50m plus add-ons mark that would simplify the situation.
So Mendes is trying a different route.
Sport Mediaset report that his proposal to the Rossoneri is clear: Leao to Manchester City, plus a cash payment from Milan, in exchange for Ruben Dias, one of the pillars of City’s back line and a mainstay of the Portugal national team.
Milan have already moved to strengthen the defence with Mario Gila from Lazio, yet Amorim wants more at the back – specifically defenders comfortable in his aggressive, structured style of play. Dias fits that profile perfectly.
Dias, the prize at the end of a complex deal
Ruben Dias turned 29 in May and remains one of the most highly regarded centre-backs in Europe. He joined Manchester City from Benfica in 2020 for €71.6m and is tied to the Premier League champions until June 2029, a contract that underlines how difficult – and expensive – any deal will be.
He has also been linked with a possible move to Real Madrid this summer, adding another heavyweight to the list of potential suitors and increasing the stakes around any negotiation.
For now, it is Mendes who is trying to redraw the map: Leao in sky blue, Dias in red and black. If he can convince both clubs, Milan’s back line – and their entire project under Amorim – could change overnight.
