Paolo Maldini insists Rafael Leao wants to stay at Milan but is ‘not unsellable’ suggesting that the club won’t pay part of his fine for Sporting CP.
The Portugal winger sees his contract expire in June 2024. The Rossoneri have been in talks with his agent Jorge Mendes over a new deal but seem nowhere close to reaching an agreement for now.
The 23-year-old owes over €16m to his former club Sporting CP, after terminating his contract unilaterally in 2018. He joined Lille as a free agent at that time, before completing a €30m move to Milan in 2019.
“Leao has a different situation which comes from his transfer to Lille,” Maldini told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“This is having an impact, interlocutors have often changed, but Rafa is grateful to us and I take into account what he says.
“Rafa understands that the path for the next few years must be at Milan. He understands it and he says it. There will be a negotiation, and we know that strong players must be paid for their value. If the team improves further, he will have everything to do even more. Then, of course, nobody is unsellable, in any team in the world.”
The latest reports in Italy suggest Milan are ready to offer Leao a new €6.5m-a-year deal, but the striker also wants the Serie A giants to pay part of his fine, something that Milan don’t seem willing to do.
When asked if he is optimistic about reaching an agreement with Leao, Maldini replied: “Yes, with him, but we have nothing to do with Sporting CP.”
How about Zlatan Ibrahimovic? The Swede has signed a new deal until 2023 but will only return to action in January.
“When he renewed, we told him that he must feel like a footballer 100%. He is a little bit anxious because of retirement, but he must remain calm. Life has always smiled on him.”
The ex-Inter and Juventus striker has been replaced by Olivier Giroud, who has started the season on a high note for club and country.
“Giroud is a champion. He is a World Cup winner, a great professional, humble, and works hard. In difficult moments, the champion always emerges,” said Maldini.
Why should we sort out his financial mess. If that ends up hampering the deal then good luck to him.
Ask him to go to Lille to sponsor a few Euro towards it. Nothing to do with Milan.