Rafael Leao has put pen to paper on a new contract with AC Milan, as confirmed by the club.
- Rafael Leao extends contract with Milan
- Contract includes a release clause of €175 million
- Milan aims to secure Champions League football
What’s the news?
AC Milan has officially extended Rafael Leao’s contract. The new deal for the Portuguese forward had been in the works for a while and has now been made official. With the new contract, Milan ensures that their star player will not be bought out this summer. The club has included a release clause of €175 million in the contract, and it is reported that the player will now earn around €5 million per year.
The backstory
Milan and Leao had been in talks for some time regarding the extension of their collaboration. The Portuguese forward was acquired from OSC Lille two seasons ago and played a crucial role in winning the title last year. Leao is now considered one of the key players at Milan, and the club was determined to keep him away from the clutches of European elite clubs.
What more?
His strong performances put Leao on the radar of many top clubs in Europe. Chelsea made an attempt to sign him in January but was quickly rejected. In 34 Serie A matches this season, Leao has scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists.
What’s next?
Leao and Milan can now focus on the final matchday of Serie A this weekend. Milan currently sits in fourth place and still has a chance to secure the third spot, currently held by city rival Internazionale. The club is particularly motivated to claim that third position as Juventus is currently appealing against the ten-point penalty imposed by the Italian Football Federation. If Juventus regains those points, Milan would drop out of the top four and miss out on Champions League qualification for the upcoming season.
