Leao says goodbye to Theo Hernandez after sealing Milan exit: ‘Theao, my brother’

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·7 July 2025

Leao says goodbye to Theo Hernandez after sealing Milan exit: ‘Theao, my brother’

Rafael Leao has said goodbye to his long-term teammate and close friend Theo Hernandez, who is on the verge of officially leaving Milan in order to join Simone Inzaghi at Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

Leao and Theo both joined Milan in the same transfer window in the summer of 2019, and have gone on to form a strong relationship on and off the pitch, providing a string of memorable performances on the Rossoneri left flank.

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Six years into his Milan tenure, Theo is now on the verge of joining Al-Hilal in a permanent move worth a reported €25m for Milan. The Frenchman, who had been valued at €40m just six months ago, is now into the final year of his contract in San Siro.

UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 11: Theo Hernández of AC Milan celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between Udinese and AC Milan at Stadio Friuli on April 11, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Leao says farewell to Al-Hilal-bound Theo Hernandez

Though the move has not yet been made official, Leao has already sent out a public message of farewell to his old colleague, who is expected to formally complete his move to Al-Hilal in the coming days.

“My brother, my companion through many battles,” Leao wrote in a post on his Instagram profile.

GENOA, ITALY – MAY 5: Rafael Leao of Milan (right) celebrates with his team-mate Theo Hernandez after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on May 5, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

“Together, we went through lots of good and bad moments, but it was a pleasure to be able to share the field with you my brother. I wish you all the luck in the world for this new phase.

“I will miss you a lot because you’re an important person to me. It wasn’t supposed to end this way, but life is full of challenges. Good luck on your new journey. As always, I’ll always be rooting for you, and for us! THEAO.”