Marca: Leao keen on Milan exit – Barcelona conflicted despite Mendes’ insistence | OneFootball

As seems to be happening every few weeks, the Spanish press have once again linked Barcelona with a move for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.

According to Marca, one of Barcelona’s objectives for next season is to strengthen the squad with a winger. It seems unlikely that Ansu Fati will stay Hansi Flick want to bring in a top-quality player for that position.

There are two options that were already mentioned last summer. On the one hand there is Nico Williams, although it is a complicated idea due to his price, because there are other clubs interested and because the player has not yet made up his mind.

Another option is Leao, the Portuguese forward who plays for Milan but ‘wants to leave the Italian club’. Barca are not entirely clear about this, because while their president Joan Laporta has always supported the idea, it is another expensive deal.

Jorge Mendes will have a say in Leao’s future, and he has ‘always wanted him to join Barcelona’. Everyone knows the excellent relationship that unites Mendes and Barca, but the issue is the €75m asking price given the Catalan side’s Financial Fair Play problems.

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Not everyone within the club is completely convinced by the hypothetical operation either. Neither the sporting director nor the coach are that keen on Leao, who they believe has displayed attitude issues which caused him to be benched by Paulo Fonseca.

It is still too early to make a call on which winger will join Barcelona. The money available will be key to determining what type of operation the Catalan club can undertake, while Mendes’ insistence could also be decisive.