Rafael Leão has softened his stance on a move to Turkey as his departure from Milan draws closer, though the Portugal international still harbours hopes of securing a transfer to the Premier League. The winger is considered an outcast at San Siro and has publicly acknowledged that he considers his time in Italy to be over, with the club equally eager to sell despite his contract running until June 2028.
Sportitalia reports that Chelsea have made an early approach to gather information on Leão’s situation, registering preliminary interest without yet advancing a formal offer. However, with Manchester United and Aston Villa showing relatively little enthusiasm for the deal, Leão has recognised his limited options and is now willing to consider proposals from Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, provided the wages are sufficient to sway him.
Financial incentives could prove decisive in the negotiations. Leão currently earns €5.5 million per season at Milan plus performance-related bonuses, but Galatasaray could offer nearly double that figure to lure him to Istanbul. Both Turkish clubs have already submitted concrete proposals, whereas English suitors remain tentative at this stage.
Milan have no intention of renewing the lucrative deal that ties Leão to the club for another three years. The Italian side are actively seeking buyers to remove a player who has drifted from the first-team picture, creating urgency as the transfer window progresses.
While Leão’s preference remains a move to England, the combination of Chelsea’s exploratory approach and the concrete financial power of Turkish clubs presents him with a narrowing set of choices. The situation remains fluid as the winger weighs his options between guaranteed offers from Istanbul and the possibility of English interest materialising before the window closes.