Rafael Leao has reportedly rejected offers from the likes of Chelsea to sign a new contract with AC Milan, with Arsenal also missing out on the Portuguese winger.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 23-year-old attacker has turned down the west London side and Real Madrid to commit his future with the Rossoneri, with Leao highly expected to leave Milan this summer for one of Europe’s elite.
Journalist Dean Jones had recently claimed that Arsenal were also keeping tabs on Leao, with Chelsea being the first English side to make an offer for the forward since the January window. However, it looks likely that the attacker will now remain in Italy at the San Siro.
Compared to Thierry Henry by Jamie Carragher, Leao is regarded as one of the best and most explosive wingers in all of Europe, with the Portuguese star enjoying his best season to date with Milan following on from the Rossoneri’s Scudetto-winning year.
Indeed, Leao rejecting Chelsea would initially be great news for Arsenal, yet with the winger now set to sign a new deal with Milan, the north London side will now have to reevaluate their attacking options for the summer, even if the position isn’t in need of urgent reinforcements.
Leao rejecting Chelsea for Milan is quite the development
Leao looked set to leave Milan this summer having developed himself into one of the best wingers in the world, with Chelsea and Arsenal just two of many clubs who were interested in signing the attacker. Yet the forward staying in Italy is quite the development.
Few would have predicted Leao to commit his future to the Rossoneri, yet with Milan reaching a UEFA Champions League semi-final and looking to spend big this summer on a Serie A title charge, the 23-year-old might be making the right decision in staying at the San Siro.
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