Milan eye Brahim Diaz return as Leao future clouds summer plans
Quick summary
AC Milan are interested in bringing Brahim Diaz back from Real Madrid, but uncertainty over Rafael Leao's future complicates their summer transfer strategy.
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Attributed to original sourceMilan are weighing a move to bring Brahim Díaz back to San Siro, as the Rossoneri search for a new attacking midfielder, with Rafael Leão’s uncertain future the dominant question over their summer.
According to CalcioMercato.com , citing the Corriere della Sera, Milan have identified Brahim as a candidate for the trequartista role having missed out on Greek teenager Konstantinos Karetsas, who joined Borussia Dortmund from Genk for €33m. Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri and Roma’s Matías Soulé are also under consideration.
A return for Brahim would reunite the Spanish-born Morocco international with a club he served well between 2020 and 2023, when he made 124 appearances on loan, scoring 18 goals and setting up 15 more while helping Milan to the 2022 Scudetto.
He remains under contract at Real Madrid until 2027, and Juventus had also been keen before pivoting to Bayer Leverkusen’s Kerim Alajbegović .
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 (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Leão’s future the key exit issue for Milan The bigger call, however, concerns the man the Rossoneri may need to move on. Rafael Leão’s future remains the club’s principal talking point, with the Portugal forward having made clear he feels his seven-year spell is over.
His preference was for the Premier League or La Liga, but with no offers arriving from either, he has begun to open the door to Turkey.
There, Galatasaray are poised to make their move, and, unlike Fenerbahçe, are already assured of a place in the Champions League league phase.
Leão is receptive to the idea, though he is asking for a lucrative, double-digit salary to make the switch. Milan, for their part, would prefer a permanent sale, leaving the two sides, and the player’s wage demands, still some way apart.
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What happened
AC Milan are exploring a move to re-sign Brahim Diaz, who previously spent time on loan at the San Siro from Real Madrid. However, the Rossoneri's summer plans are complicated by ongoing uncertainty around Rafael Leao's future, with the Portuguese forward attracting interest from elsewhere. Milan's hierarchy must resolve Leao's situation before committing to other moves, as any sale would significantly reshape their attack and transfer budget.
Chance analysis
This is a squad-planning story with tactical implications. Brahim Diaz's return would provide creativity and depth in attacking midfield, a position where Milan have needed reinforcement. The Leao cloud is the more decisive variable: if he departs, Milan lose their primary goal threat and would need to reinvest significantly. For prediction systems, monitor Leao's status as a leading indicator of Milan's offensive output next season.
Milan's attack could be reshaped depending on whether Leao stays or departs, with Diaz potentially returning as a secondary creative option.
Milan's summer squad strength hinges on Leao's status; any Diaz move depends on resolving Leao's future first.