AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has set tongues wagging with his recent social media activity. The 25-year-old is rumoured to be eyeing up an exit from the San Siro, and he did not even feature in their final Serie A game of the season at home to Monza on Saturday.
Matteo Gabbia and Joao Felix came up with the goals for the Rossoneri in a 2-0 win which left them a disappointing seventh in Italy’s top division. Leao was an unused substitute, and with no Champions League football lined up for next season, the Portuguese international may be ready to burn his bridges.
It didn’t take long for eagle-eyed supporters to notice that he had removed AC Milan from his Instagram bio shortly after Saturday’s win. The club are not scheduled to play again until a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in late July.
By that time, Leao may be playing for the other team, as the Gunners are reportedly weighing up a summer swoop for the wide man. According to Footmercato, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta had a conversation with Leao on the phone earlier this month.
The former Sporting and Lille star is understood to be on Berta’s shortlist as he looks to bolster Mikel Arteta’s options on the left side of his front-three.
Athletic Club star Nico Williams and Real Madrid trickster Rodrygo have both been linked with moves to north London in recent weeks. Interest in the high-flying La Liga duo, plus Milan ace Leao, may not bode well for Arteta’s current left-wing starter, Gabriel Martinelli, if a permanent signing is made.
Milan reportedly paid £32million for Leao in 2019, and he has since gone on to score 70 goals in 259 games for the club. But his race at the San Siro may now be run, with his lack of club affiliation on social media suggesting that he is soon to be up for grabs.
The player still has three years left to run on his contract. And when suitors came calling in recent years, Milan reportedly warned them off by demanding a nine-figure transfer fee. Now, Leao is thought to be available for around £66m.
If he makes the move to the Emirates Stadium, he could also be joined by a new centre-forward. Berta is said to be keen on Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, while Newcastle United star Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig marksman Benjamin Sesko are among the other names on his radar.
