“The Love Story of Rafael Leao and AC Milan: The Final Hurdle and Thorny Fine Issue”

Rafael Leao and AC Milan. A love story born in August 2019 – the Rossoneri paid 29.5 million to Lille for his transfer – grown with the passing of the seasons and which is starting, more and more, to end with a black and white signature of the Portuguese ace on the new contract with the club in via Aldo Rossito continue a marriage that has taken Leao from a rising star of European football to a real champion of an international character and has resurrected Milan, projecting him towards the top of Italian football – with the Scudetto won last season – and once again competitive in Europe – as evidenced by the semi-finals reached 16 years after the last time. But to ratify the definitive agreement, a few small pieces are still missing.

THE AGREEMENT IS THERE – Maldini and Massara’s proposal was known to most: 7 million net per year plus 3 million signing bonus put on the plate by the Rossoneri to extend that contract expiring in June 2024. To the Milanese company – which will be able to leverage the advantages of the Growth Decree – it will cost, gross, approximately 10.5 million per year. Over the last few days, the managers have filed the details of this agreement with the class of ’99 who, at least verbally, accepted the existing agreementdemonstrating both his will to remain wearing the Rossoneri shirt and his desire to continue to grow with these colors on and remain central to Stefano Pioli’s project, a coach who allowed his definitive leap in quality and allowed him to find that football maturity that it was thought the Portuguese could really aspire to. Maas we pointed out earlier, there is a fundamental step which cannot be ignored.

READ ALL THE LATEST ON THE RENEWAL OF LEAO

THE FINE ISSUE – We are obviously talking about the famous 22 million fine – including interest and late payments – to be paid to Sporting Lisbon and confirmed by the DRC (Dispute Resolution Chamber) – as relaunched by Record.pt – body set up by FIFA to judge the dispute. The case, it should be remembered, will return to the CAS which, in February 2022, had already declared Lille as the subject co-responsible for the payment, together with Leao himself. But the latest rumor, as reported by The Sports Gazette, throws an assist against the Rossoneri. Indeed, he Lille – which holds between 15% and 20% in the event of a future resale –in agreement with the top management of Milan, has given its willingness to pay this amount in full to the Portuguese club, effectively freeing the player from any commitment with his previous club – from which he had released himself to marry in France -. Lionin this way, he would therefore be free to sign the multi-year renewal with the Rossoneri club. Lo Sporting – even if he is in any case blocking, preparing a new appeal to be presented to FIFA and the international courts, in order to obtain recognition of a higher amount to be paid into his coffers, i.e. those 45 million euros, equal to the termination clause present in the Leao in Portugal – has opened a window and is looking for an agreement, in the last few hours, with Lille to close this dispute and to find a definitive agreement on the amount of compensation. A thorny affair, on which the Milan management is continuing to monitor and work – in collaboration with the two companies, willing to file the matter once and for all – to put an end to this infinite case. And to put an end to the discussion on the renewal of Leao, allowing the player to tie himself, once again, to the Rossoneri colors.

READ THE FIFA DECISION ON THE FINE AND THE APPEALS OF SPORTING AND LILLE