FC Barcelona have been moving discreetly in the market for weeks. Joan Laporta and the sporting management were looking to secure a star signing to strengthen the wings, a key area in the new project.
With several names on the table, there was one that caused consensus, excitement, and hope among the fans. The player had dribbling skills, power, and goal-scoring ability. Everything Hansi Flick needed, but that hope has just vanished.
Rafael Leão stays
Rafael Leão, one of AC Milan's biggest stars, has been the protagonist of one of the summer's most viral moments. During a livestream on his TikTok account, a fan asked him what his dream team was. The Portuguese player's answer was clear and direct:
"I already play for one. Milan is one of my dream clubs." A message that, although brief, carries enormous weight. That sentence rules out any possibility of seeing the Portuguese player wearing the blaugrana jersey.
The player has been on Barça's radar for months. He was even linked to Bayern Munich after the German club's failed attempt to sign Nico Williams. However, Leão doesn't want to move; his heart remains at San Siro.
An untouchable asset in Milan
Leão arrived at Milan in 2019, and since then, he has been an essential piece in the Rossoneri project. This season, he proved his quality again: 8 goals and 8 assists in 34 Serie A matches. Despite the team's collective downturn, which failed to qualify for Europe, he kept his level.
In 2023, he renewed his contract until 2028. His release clause is 175 million euros, a figure that makes him practically unattainable for any club.
Milan considers him non-transferable and now, with his own words, he has also made it clear: he has no intention of leaving. He has won a Serie A, an Italian Super Cup, and the Nations League with Portugal. His challenge remains the same: to succeed at the club that made him great.
Barça looks for a new plan
Leão's message not only confirms his continuity in Italy, but also forces Barça to readjust its strategy. Joan Laporta loses one of his main targets. Although there were other options on the table, such as Nico Williams, the bet on Leão was firm and ambitious.
Now, in the offices at Camp Nou, they are working on alternatives. The profile remains the same: a winger with one-on-one ability, goal-scoring, and commitment, but the name will have to be another. The Portuguese player has closed the door elegantly, without controversy.