‘He is our player’ – Ruben Amorim breaks silence on Rafael Leao’s AC Milan future

AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim has moved to calm uncertainty surrounding Rafael Leão’s future, insisting the Portuguese forward remains part of his plans ahead of the new season.

Leão has been linked with a summer departure from the Rossoneri, with reports suggesting Fenerbahçe have tabled an opening offer worth €40 million plus €2 million in potential add-ons for the winger.

However, Milan are reportedly unwilling to consider a sale at that valuation as they continue to view Leão as a key figure in their ambitions to return to the top of Italian football.

The 27-year-old endured a mixed campaign last season, scoring nine goals and providing three assists in 29 Serie A appearances. Despite his contributions, Milan finished fifth in the league, 17 points behind champions Inter Milan.

Speculation over Leão’s future intensified this week, with reports claiming the forward could leave San Siro. But as Milan began their pre-season preparations, Amorim addressed the situation and revealed plans to hold talks with the Portugal international.

“He is our player until anything changes, the team comes first,” Amorim stated, as quoted by Gianluca Di Marzio.

“It is not too complicated, for me the team is the most important thing.”

Amorim plans talks with returning stars

With several players returning from the recent World Cup, Amorim confirmed he intends to meet with Leão and other members of his squad to outline his plans for the upcoming campaign.

“I will speak with Rafael, with (Gonçalo) Ramos, with (Alexis) Saelemaekers, with all the players returning from the World Cup to explain what we will do,” he said.

“I know there is a lot of speculation about some of our players, but they remain ours until anything changes.”

The Milan boss’ comments underline the club’s position that they are not actively looking to offload their biggest names despite significant investment in the transfer market.

Milan refuse to sacrifice stars after major spending spree

The Rossoneri have already invested more than €100 million this summer, securing the arrivals of Gonçalo Ramos and Mario Gila as part of a squad rebuild designed to close the gap on Italy’s elite.

However, the club has no intention of balancing their spending by selling their most influential players, with Leão viewed as a cornerstone of their project.

The winger remains one of Milan’s most valuable assets after playing a major role in their 2021-22 Serie A title triumph, their first league success in over a decade.

Amorim has been tasked with transforming Milan back into genuine title contenders after the club fell short in recent seasons.