Rafael Leao is currently one of the world’s best wingers, both for AC Milan and the Portugal national team. He has already established himself as a great player for both, scoring and assisting goals with a smile on his face regularly.
As such, many clubs are interested in him, and are willing to offer him huge contract offers to tempt him. One of his many suitors are the Saudis, who have been buying up as much talent as they can from Europe. But Leao has no intention to leave Milan at this point, citing a very important reason.
Rafael Leao on Saudi Pro League offers
Despite being only 24 and having not achieved much success, Rafael Leao was linked to many Saudi clubs. However, he has no intention of leaving European football yet.
In an interview with Portugal GQ, the Portuguese winger revealed many things. When asked whether he could leave in the future, he said that he did not want to leave Milan yet, “You can never say never, but I’m at a club that has welcomed me very well, I’ve renewed now, if I had plans to leave I wouldn’t renew. I’m focused on doing great things in two or three years at AC Milan.”
When asked if he would join the Saudi league, he said that he prefers playing in the Champions League rather than having a big contract. “I have not yet achieved great things to leave for a league like that. These days money has spoken louder, but for me a Champions League is worth more than a €10 million salary, for example.”
Leao’s captain and teammate at Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to move in the Saudi Pro League for Al Nassr, and had kicked off the Saudi transfer initiatives. Many players have since moved there, including many young players. It is safe to say Leao won’t be leaving the highest stage yet.
Rafael Leao on his future with AC Milan
Rafael Leao also revealed his future plans with AC Milan, with the Seria A winger revealing that his main goal is to win the Champions League.
He said, “I think the club is on the right track, we managed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. Now the club’s goal must be to keep going up, to keep adding, to keep being strong. And I’m sure Milan will soon return to winning a Champions League, which is our goal.”
Milan and Rafael Leao did come close last year, reaching the semi finals of the UCL. They lost out to derby rivals Inter Milan, who would go on to become the runners up. The club will now be hoping to continue on that progress by finally winning the competition in the following years.
This year, they have been drawn in the Group of Death along with Newcastle United, Paris Saint Germain and Borussia Dortmund. They faced Newcastle in the first game, but it was a goalless draw. Their second fixture will be against Dortmund on October 5.
Milan are also second in the league, 3 points behind rivals Inter Milan. They will face Cagliari tomorrow in a Serie A fixture, with the club aiming to go top of the league with a victory.
