Milan have received a major boost in their quest to agree a new contract with Rafael Leao as Lille will now pay the fine owed to Sporting Lisbon.
The 23-year-old Portuguese forward’s current deal expires with the Rossoneri in June 2024 and the club are desperate to tie him down to a new contract ahead of the summer transfer window, not wanting to lose the talented player in the coming months.
A frustrating element of the contract renewal negotiations was the €20m fine owed by Leao to Sporting, which stems from his decision to unilaterally terminate his contract in the summer of 2018 following an attack by the club’s ultras.
Sporting took the case to court, where it was confirmed that the 23-year-old would have to pay €16.5m – not including interest – back to the Portuguese club. In February 2022, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Lille were the ones responsible for paying this fine, but in May 2022 the Court of Milan reaffirmed that it was Leao’s debt to pay.
Portuguese newspaper Record now details how another twist in the case has emerged and Lille are again responsible for paying €20.3m to Sporting, taking the weight off Leao’s shoulders.
The fact that the 23-year-old is no longer responsible for this fine gives Milan a key boost in their quest to tie him down to a new deal, removing a thorn from the negotiations.