Fenerbahce book meetings for Leao but face uphill battle convincing unhappy Milan star
Quick summary
Fenerbahce have scheduled meetings to try and sign Rafael Leao from AC Milan, but face significant difficulty convincing the Portuguese forward, who is reportedly unhappy at the San Siro.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceReports in Italy claim that representatives from Fenerbahce are due to talk to Rafael Leao’s representatives in an attempt to convince him to move to Turkey this summer, but that the unhappy Milan star is still not sold on the destination.
Fenerbahce to offer €10m salary to unconvinced Leao Leao has widely been linked with a move away from Milan this summer after spending the last seven seasons in San Siro. Reports in Italy suggest that the Portugal international, 27, feels that this is the right time to move on, especially after a disappointing end to the 2025-26 season, which saw the Rossoneri miss out on Champions League qualification.
Leao is currently Milan’s highest earner, and a sale would not only bring in a significant transfer fee, but importantly a huge capital gain as well, which could go towards reinvestments in other areas of the pitch.
As things stand, the feeling between the club and player is mutual: That this might be the right time to part company .
According to reports from Calciomercato.com , Milan will seek a fee in the region of €60m to sell the former Serie A MVP this summer. The Rossoneri might even open up to the idea of selling Leao on loan with an obligation to buy.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 11: Rafael Leao of AC Milan is put under pressure by Thomas Thiesson Kristensen of Udinese Calcio during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Udinese Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) The issue, however, is finding a buyer that is not only willing, but one that is able to convince Leao to join them as well.
The 27-year-old is reportedly keen to continue playing at the highest level in Europe, ideally in England or in Spain.
There have been rumours of interest from the Premier League, specifically from Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur , but at this stage in the window, Calciomercato reports that the only genuine approaches have been from Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 03: Rafael Leao of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and AC Milan at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 03, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Thursday’s update claims that a delegation of Fenerbahce representatives have planned a trip to Milan in the coming days to speak with the lawyer that represents Leao and to offer him a €10m-per-season salary to convince him to move to Istanbul.
Whether Leao opens up to a move to the Turkish Super Lig remains to be seen.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce have organized meetings in an attempt to lure AC Milan's star forward Rafael Leao. However, sources indicate the negotiations will be challenging, as while Leao is reportedly unhappy with his situation at Milan, convincing him to move to Turkey represents a major hurdle. Leao remains under contract at Milan and is one of the Serie A's most high-profile players, making any potential transfer complex and expensive. The story highlights both Leao's apparent unrest in Italy and Fenerbahce's ambitious transfer strategy.
Chance analysis
This is an early-stage transfer rumor with limited immediate impact on match predictions. Leao's reported unhappiness at Milan could affect his performance and motivation in upcoming Serie A fixtures, which is the more relevant factor for prediction systems. Any potential move to Fenerbahce would be a significant step down in competitive level from Serie A, making the deal unlikely without substantial financial incentives. For now, the key signal is Milan's challenge to keep their star attacker content, which could matter for Milan's attacking output in the short term.
Leao's reported unhappiness at Milan may negatively impact his performance; a potential transfer to Fenerbahce remains a distant possibility with no immediate effect on squad availability.
Monitor Leao's form and body language for Milan in upcoming matches — his reported unhappiness could subtly affect attacking output regardless of whether a transfer materializes.