GdS: Theo ‘very happy’ at Milan but renewal must follow – Leao is the guideline | OneFootball

Theo Hernandez matched Paolo Maldini’s Serie A goal tally during Friday’s win over Lecce, and now the AC Milan management must get their renewal strategy right.

La Gazzetta dello Sport recall Theo’s encouraging words after the game against Lecce, when he responded to a question about renewing by stating: “I’m very happy here, the people love me, the team loves me and that’s the most important thing.”

It sounds a lot different from the ‘whether I’ll stay at Milan or not, we’ll see later’ he uttered in mid-June at the France national team’s retreat before the European Championship. In fact, if Milan had found itself in a position to sell a big name, he was the one at the top of the list, the report claims.

That statement made it very clear that not even Theo would close the door fully to evaluating the future and seeing what opportunities might arise, amid rumours Bayern Munich were keen Then the season got into full swing and the passing of the months brought his contract into the spotlight.

His current deal expires in 2026 and that means the time has come to discuss an extension. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has previously expressed his optimism regarding the situation (and that of Mike Maignan) so now the dialogue is continuing.

The Frenchman has pointed at Rafael Leao’s €7m net per season salary (including bonuses) and made it clear that he deserves the same, but he must continue to prove he is one of the three strongest left-backs in the world in the meantime.