Rafael Leao challenges ‘negative influence’ report with blunt social media reply

Rafael Leao has rejected a report claiming Ruben Amorim regards him as a negative influence in the AC Milan dressing room, responding on social media: “Maybe because you are lying.”

The Portugal international is not particularly active on X, but chose to reply after seeing a post reflecting a report published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

That report said Amorim believed Leao was having a negative impact inside the AC Milan squad and that the manager had concerns about the player’s influence on the atmosphere within the team.

Leao answered the post directly, writing: “Maybe because you are lying.” He accompanied the response with three laughing-face emojis.

The winger will not be involved in AC Milan’s friendly against Manchester United today. However, his absence is understood to be because of a minor injury rather than disciplinary reasons.

Leao’s response comes during a summer in which both the player and the club have tried to identify a team willing to sign him. The only low offers received so far have come from Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

None of those proposals came close to AC Milan’s initial asking price of €50m, with a further €10m available in add-ons. As a result, the Rossoneri are preparing to lower their expectations and could allow Leao to leave for €40m.

The social media exchange has added attention to a period of uncertainty around the forward’s future, although the available information does not suggest that his omission from the friendly was punishment for his response or for any disagreement with the manager.

Leao remains the subject of transfer interest from Turkey, but the offers received from the three clubs have so far failed to meet the valuation set by AC Milan. The club’s willingness to consider a lower fee indicates that its position may be changing as the summer progresses.

The original €50m valuation, plus €10m in possible add-ons, has not been matched by any of the proposals from Galatasaray, Besiktas or Fenerbahce. AC Milan could therefore accept a guaranteed €40m instead, should a suitable offer arrive.

For now, Leao has publicly denied the suggestion that he is viewed as a harmful presence within the dressing room, while his absence from the meeting with Manchester United has been attributed to a slight injury.