AC Milan president provides update on Rafael Leao future

AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni remains hopeful that Rafael Leao can be convinced to sign a new deal at San Siro.

The 23-year-old was in strong form for the Italian champions ahead of the break for the 2022 World Cup, scoring seven goals and registering nine assists in 20 appearances in all competitions.

Leao has just finished representing Portugal at the World Cup, meanwhile, scoring twice in five appearances for Fernando Santos's side, who reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

The forward's future at club level remains unclear, as his current deal is due to expire in the summer of 2024.

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are all said to be interested in Leao, who is believed to be open to leaving San Siro next year.

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When asked for an update on the situation surrounding Leao, Milan's president Scaroni has said that he will be "calm" providing that the forward is willing to negotiate on a potential new deal.

"They tell me that in Milan he is very well off, that he is motivated. I know that [Paolo] Maldini is negotiating with him and as far as I just said if he negotiates, I'm calm," Scaroni told Gazzetta dello Sport.

There have been suggestions that Leao's wage demands are currently proving to be problematic, with the attacker learning that he could earn more by leaving the Italian side.

The Portuguese made the move to Milan from Lille in August 2019, and he was represented the Serie A outfit on 135 occasions in all competitions, contributing 34 goals and 30 assists in the process.

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This season, Leao has contributed six goals and five assists in 14 Serie A appearances, while he netted once and provided four assists in six outings in the group stage of the Champions League.

Milan director Maldini said back in September that Leao wants to remain with the Italian side.

"Rafa is grateful to us and I'm interested in what he says to us. He understands that his path in the coming years must be at Milan, he understands that and tells us as much," Maldini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There will be a negotiation but we know that good players must be paid their value. If the team grows further, Leao will have everything to compete to the fullest. Of course, there are no non-transferable players at any team around the world."

Real Madrid are also believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation surrounding Leao in the event that he becomes available in a cut-price deal next summer.