Aheed Abrar
Manchester United target Rafael Leao extends AC Milan contract
AC Milan have tied down Rafael Leao down to a new contract amidst interest from Manchester United in the Portuguese, according to The Athletic (Subscription Required) [h/t Manchester Evening News].
The 23-year-old’s previous terms were set to expire in the summer of 2024. At that time, several top teams had the forward on their radar ahead of the upcoming transfer window, including the Old Trafford side.
However, Leao, who was a target for the Red Devils, has put pen to paper on a new five-year deal at the Rossoneri. Thus, any interest from other clubs has ended for the time being.
Milan were keen on securing the Portugal international’s future and they have done so. The forward has been pivotal to the Serie A giants’ resurgence in recent years.
Stefano Pioli has managed to get the best out of the 23-year-old at the Rossoneri. After winning Serie A in the previous campaign, the Italian outfit have made it far in the Champions League this time around.
However, the San Siro side lost 2-0 to arch-rivals Inter Milan in the first leg of the semi-finals. Leao was unavailable for the fixture. He has been key to their success, scoring 13 goals and providing 13 assists in 44 appearances in all competitions this season.
At United, the left-hand side of the attack has been dominated by Marcus Rashford. The 25-year-old has been in fine form in the current campaign and has also often been deployed as a centre forward.
Jadon Sancho has also played a considerable amount of minutes on the left wing in the last few weeks. Erik ten Hag can also call upon Alejandro Garnacho, who has broken onto the scene since the Dutch manager’s arrival.
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Therefore, for now, Leao is seemingly not a priority, with the Old Trafford side possessing an abundance of talent in his position. However, it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils will pursue the Portuguese once again in the coming years,
