
Growing reports Leao could stay at Milan as Fenerbahce have not yet convinced
Quick summary
Reports suggest Rafael Leao may remain at AC Milan, as Fenerbahce have reportedly failed to convince the player or club of a transfer move.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceNeither Galatasaray nor Fenerbahce have yet been able to close a deal for Rafael Leao, and now, there is a growing feeling from outlets in Italy that the Portugal international could end up staying on with the Rossoneri heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Could Leao decide to stay at Milan? Milan have been looking to sell Leao this summer: The 26-year-old has spent the last seven seasons in San Siro and has himself made it clear on several occasions this summer that he feels now is the right time to move on and try something new.
However, as things stand, Milan have not yet been able to find a buyer that will satisfy both the club’s and the player’s demands.
Leao has previously spoken about his ambition to play in either the Premier League or LaLiga, but thus far, the only real interest has come from Turkey, where both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce have had discussions over a potential deal.
Reports over the weekend claimed that Fenerbahce were preparing a new offer for Milan and Leao, understood to be worth ‘almost’ €50m, but according to TMW , the player remains unconvinced and Milan are unwilling to entertain offers below the €50m mark.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Rafael Leao of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) The Rossoneri are adamant that they will only sell Leao outright this summer and that it will take an absolute minimum of €50m, with requests starting at the €60m mark.
However, with less than a month of the summer transfer window remaining, and with not an enormous amount of progress when it comes to selling Leao, there is a growing possibility that the player ends up staying on with Milan heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Milannews.it claims that this is still the most unlikely scenario on the cards as things stand, but that it is a possibility ‘which cannot be ruled out’.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Rafael Leao of AC Milan controls the ball whilst under pressure from Weston McKennie of Juventus during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Calciomercato also reports that Milan are still hoping to sell Leao this summer, but also states that there is a possibility that a solution is not found and that the player ends up staying with the club for another season.
TMW adds that having a compatriot in the Milan dugout in Ruben Amorim could also be a key factor in Leao’s potential decision to stick it out for another season in San Siro.
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What happened
Despite transfer links to Fenerbahce, growing reports indicate that Rafael Leao is likely to stay at AC Milan. The Turkish club has not yet managed to convince either the player or Milan to proceed with a deal. Leao remains a key figure for Milan, and unless negotiations shift significantly, he is expected to continue at the San Siro. The situation remains fluid but the momentum appears to favor Milan retaining the Portuguese forward.
Chance analysis
If Leao stays at Milan, it preserves their attacking nucleus and removes a major distraction heading into the season. For Fenerbahce, missing out on a marquee signing would be a significant setback for their transfer ambitions. Prediction systems should weight Milan's attacking output assuming Leao is available, and deprioritize Fenerbahce-related Leao transfer scenarios.
Milan retain a key attacking asset; Fenerbahce miss out on a high-profile target, potentially weakening their offensive recruitment.
Leao likely remains a Milan player for the upcoming season; do not adjust Milan attacking projections downward based on Fenerbahce links.