Rafael Leao's Uncertain Future at Milan: Training but No Move
Rafael Leao is back on the grass at Milanello. His future, though, is still parked firmly in the departure lounge.
The Portugal forward has returned to full training with Milan after 12 days out, rejoining the group in the final, frantic week of the Serie A transfer window. He was missing from the Rossoneri’s pre-season friendly against Manchester United and also sat out their league opener against Torino, a clear sign of how far he has slipped from the centre of the project.
On paper, he is a Milan player. In reality, the club have been trying to move him on all summer.
Leao has long been open about his ambition to test himself elsewhere, with the Premier League and LaLiga his preferred destinations. Interest has flickered across Europe, most recently from Aston Villa, but nothing has yet turned into a concrete move away from San Siro.
Milan’s stance is clear: they want around €50 million. That price has held, even as the clock ticks down.
Inside the club, the page already feels half-turned. Head coach Ruben Amorim underlined the shift in tone when he stated bluntly that “Rafa is not important,” a remark that would have been unthinkable not so long ago for a player once seen as a cornerstone of the attack.
The fans, too, have a new name to sing. Teenage winger Alphadjo Cisse has wasted no time in making an impression, scoring his first Serie A goal in Milan’s opening league match of the 2026-27 season at the weekend. His emergence only sharpens the sense that Milan are preparing for life after Leao, whether a buyer arrives now or later.
Yet Leao remains on the books, back in training, back in photos from Milanello, but still in limbo.
On the market, the picture is just as muddled. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Aston Villa have decided not to push ahead with a deal at this stage, though other Italian outlets insist the Premier League club have not completely walked away.
Galatasaray are also at the table, but not at Milan’s price. The Turkish side have so far stopped short of the €50m asking figure, with reports on Wednesday indicating their latest proposal reaches €42m including bonuses. For now, that gap is holding everything up.
So Leao runs, stretches and trains in red and black, while his future is debated in boardrooms and on back pages. One week remains. Does someone meet Milan’s number, or does a player who has already mentally checked out stay put for another season in a club that seems ready to move on without him?
