Man Utd plotting summer move for £56m ‘genius’ who was jeered off by his own fans last weekend | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly gathering information on AC Milan star Rafael Leao before launching a summer onslaught.

The 26-year-old is a Sporting CP youth product who was sold to LOSC Lille in the summer of 2018. After an impressive year in France, Milan poached his services in 2019, and he went on to establish himself as the club’s ultimate star in the current era.

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The Portuguese attacker helped the Rossoneri end an 11-year drought by clinching the Italian league title in the 2021/22 season. He was rewarded for his heroics with the Serie A MVP of the Season Award.

Rafael Leao destined to leave AC Milan this summer?

Thanks to explosive talent, the 26-year-old has been on the radar for some of the biggest clubs in Europe over the years, including Man Utd.

The Red Devils had reportedly scouted Leao three years ago. Nevertheless, there were never truly any concrete developments on this track in the past, with the player seemingly happy to play his football at San Siro.

Nevertheless, the relationship between the Portugal international and the Milan fanbase has been on a steep decline. On Saturday, he was jeered off the pitch during the shocking 0-3 defeat to Udinese after squandering promising opportunities with clumsy touches.

There had also been a few tensions between him and his teammates, particularly Christian Pulisic, even though his manager, Max Allegri, downplayed the whole episode, as he continues to defend his ‘genius’ star.

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According to Calciomercato, this could be the summer where we finally witness Leao’s departure from Milan, as his relationship with the club has almost reached a breaking point.

The source claims that super agent Jorge Mendes has been hoping to orchestrate a move to Barcelona. The Blaugrana look increasingly likely to waive their option to buy Marcus Rashford from Man Utd. However, they remain uninterested in Leao.

On the other hand, the Italian portal reveals that MUFC continue to follow the Portuguese’s situation closely. INEOS are currently making their evaluations, but contacts between the parties could intensify in the coming weeks.

How much would Leao cost Man United?

Transfermarkt estimates Leao’s value at €65 million (£56m). Nevertheless, Calciomercato believes Milan are willing to entertain offers starting from €50 million (£43m), given that the attacker’s contract will expire in June 2028, and he’s coming off a relatively underwhelming campaign.

For their part, Man Utd are reportedly planning to recruit a new right-footed left-winger, which is where Leao excels.

The 26-year-old has been mostly playing as a centre-forward this season in Allegri’s 3-5-2 system, which has arguably hampered his momentum.

The Red Devils have also been linked with other left wingers, including the likes of Yan Diomande, Ilman Ndiaye, and Morgan Rogers.

However, Leao could represent a cost-efficient alternative, although his challenging campaign at Milan has raised a few red flags.