26-year-old Serie A winger fuels Barcelona links with fresh hint | OneFootball

With FC Barcelona yet to make a decision on whether they would exercise the purchase clause on Marcus Rashford, it remains to be seen how the future of the left wing position would pan out for the Blaugrana team.

Raphinha is expected to continue as a fixed starter in that role, but the Catalans are still considering bringing in another high-quality option to strengthen the depth in attack.

In this context, one name that has consistently appeared on Barcelona’s radar in recent years is Portuguese forward Rafael Leao.

Leao has long been appreciated by the Barcelona sporting department, and there were already internal conversations and exploratory contact during the period when the Nico Williams operation collapsed, although the financial conditions at the time made any serious approach impossible.

This summer, however, the scenario could be different. The AC Milan attacker could be on his way out of the Italian club this summer despite having a contract running until 2028.

Portuguese international has reportedly seen his importance at Milan reduced following a complicated relationship with coach Massimiliano Allegri, which has led to a significant drop in his minutes and a more secondary role in the squad after several seasons as a key figure.

Adding further speculation, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, the 26-year-old winger recently posted an image on his Instagram story taken from a documentary featuring Ronaldinho, where the Brazilian legend appears in an El Clasico.

Leao accompanied the image with the caption “the best”, a gesture that has once again been interpreted as a subtle nod towards Barcelona and their history.

Barcelona are said to like the player, the player himself would be open to a move to the Catalan capital, and Milan could also be willing to negotiate a transfer if a suitable offer arrives.

However, everything still depends on the final resolution of Rashford’s situation, as the English forward remains an option for the same position, and his signing conditions are still under evaluation. For now, no final decision has been made, and the Leao situation remains open for the summer window.