Rafael Leao has issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to the Premier League as he looks for a way out of AC Milan.
The electric winger has represented the Rossoneri since 2019, winning Serie A in 2022, but is now prepared to leave the club despite having two years left to run on his contract.
As he braces for what Portugal hope will be a historic World Cup campaign, he is taking time to put himself in the shop window, with Arsenal and Manchester United both linked. Galatasaray are also said to have come in with a considerable offer.
Leao, though, has his heart set on a move to either England or Spain.
He said: “I need a new challenge. I already won two trophies in Italy and have been there for a while.
“The league is evolving, but for my style of football, I think the Premier League or La Liga would make more of my talent, as a player.”
Leao went on: “If a Premier League opportunity were to come along, I would be very happy. I think that I can put my talent up against the players there, who are of a very high level. Playing in that kind of a league really gets the best out of a player.”
It remains to be seen where Leao will end up, with any transfer likely to be completed after Portugal’s World Cup run has come to an end.
Milan do seem open to a sale, though, after faltering to a fifth-place finish this season.
Leao put that underperformance down to the tactical philosophy of Massimiliano Allegri, who has since been sacked.
“It was a difficult season. We didn’t get into the Champions League, I played while injured for 4-5 months with a groin inflammation, in a position that was not suited to me. The tactical system did not help me,” Leao added.
“I felt that I could make the difference, but the way the team played didn’t put me in a condition to do that. At the end of the day, it wore me down.”
