Amorim provides Leao update, explains Fofana and Tomori squad decisions

Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Rafael Leao will not be in the Milan squad for their upcoming Serie A match against Venezia and has explained why Youssouf Fofana, Santiago Gimenez and Fikayo Tomori will not be part of his squad and will not be allowed to train with the first team if they do not leave during the summer transfer window.

Amorim on Leao, Fofana, Gimenez and Tomori The Rossoneri head coach sat down for his pre-match press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s clash at home against Venezia, which will be Amorim’s San Siro debut.

TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on August 23, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Amorim addressed a number of topics during his chat with the press, including the current situation surrounding Leao and his reasoning for dropping Fofana, Gimenez and Tomori from his squad.

Amorim said that he was unwilling to talk about individual situations, but promised that in his next press conference, when the transfer window will have shut, that he will be willing to talk as much as the journalists like about the club’s dealings and transfer strategy.

“It’s difficult to talk about individual situations. I promise you guys, in the next press conference, you can ask anything about the market, I will explain everything.”

He did comment on Leao, though, confirming that he will not be part of the squad against Venezia as he has only trained with the first-team once.

“About the players that are going to be involved in the game (against Venezia), you are going to receive the squad list. Leao had one training session with us. He’s still not really fit compared to the others. He’s not going to be in the game. I’m going to choose the best ones.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks on from the substitutes bench prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “We just have to wait five days and then at the end of the market we can talk about everything because we have an explanation. We’ll have nothing to hide. But let’s wait until the end of the market.”

He later added: “Leao is a very, very strong player. I said to Leao and I said to the team: Leao is a player that if he’s in the right mindset, he can play in any team in the world, but he needs to have the right mindset.

“Sometimes you reach a moment where you need to go to another place, so we are in that moment. You guys know better than me what’s happening. Let’s wait, focus on Venezia, because we haven’t spoken about Giovanni Stroppa, how they play, they won almost every game in Serie B, so I’m so concerned about this game, our first in San Siro. I promise you guys, in the next press conference I will talk about the market with you.”

PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 08: Youssouf Fofana of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AC Milan at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 08, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Amorim did explain why he has decided to leave Tomori, Fofana and Gimenez out of his squad. They have not been given squad numbers and will not be permitted to train with the first team if they are still at the club in September.

“You know that some players, even if they don’t leave the club, they will not be part of the team because it’s impossible. It’s not because they’re bad players. They’re very good players and they’re very good people, but it’s impossible to train during the week with 27 players. Nobody is going to be prepared, nobody is going to be satisfied, so there are some players that if they stay, they will not be part of the squad.

“But we have a responsibility and we will provide all the facilities, everything that we have to fulfill our job as a club.”