Former AC Milan midfielder Kaka has admitted now may be 'the right moment' for Rafael Leao to leave the club amid reported interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
City were linked with a move for the Portuguese forward shortly before the January window opened, with Pep Guardiola a long-time admirer and in need of some penetration from wide areas following the departure of Raheem Sterling. The winger's current contract at the San Siro runs out in 2024, making summer an optimal time for the Serie A club to sell, should a new deal not be agreed.
Leao's lawyer, Ted Dimvula, had recently claimed that the 25-year-old would be open to signing a new deal. But with his future still far from clear, speculation continues as to whether City could make a move come summer.
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"He is a fantastic player, I like him so much," Kaka told Gazzetta. "If he sees Italian football as a transitory moment in his career, then he should leave, now it’s the right moment.
"I think he should stay because I don’t see Italian football as transitory and sometimes leaving Milan is not a good idea.
"I think Leao must consider all options. Milan are giving him many. I met Galliani in Qatar during the World Cup and he said that Serie A has become a step in the players’ careers. I struggle to see it this way. Serie A remains a very challenging league for strikers, I don’t think it’s a minor league, even if there’s a different economic power."
Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with making a move for Leao, whose eight goals and six assists in 19 Serie A appearances have kept Milan in the race for a Champions League finish.
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