Milan owner Cardinale to hold talks with Leão amid Galatasaray links
Quick summary
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is expected to hold talks with Rafael Leão following speculation linking the Portuguese forward to a move to Galatasaray.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceGerry Cardinale will meet with Milan players and staff at Milanello today and according to Gazzetta, the Rossoneri owner will sit down with Rafael Leao to discuss the Portuguese player’s future at the club.
Milan patron Cardinale is expected at Milanello today, just two days before the Rossoneri’s 2026-27 season debut against Torino.
Cardinale expected in Milanello today According to Gazzetta, Cardinale has planned group meetings and one-on-one sessions. The goal is to convey his enthusiasm and closeness to the team and to the new coach, Ruben Amorim.
According to the report, the transfer market will also be a topic of discussion, with Cardinale expected to sit down for individual meetings with some players, including Leao, and with coach Amorim to understand whether the manager requires additional signings before the end of the transfer window on September 1.
Gazzetta reiterates that Milan are ready to sell Leao for circa €50m, but Galatasaray have been the only team to submit a formal proposal for the Portuguese winger, worth circa €40m.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 03: Gerry Cardinale of AC Milan looks on before the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 03, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Leao’s contract with Milan expires in June 2028, and he’s not a guaranteed starter under Amorim in 2026-27. Both Milan and the player admitted earlier this summer that a potential departure was on the cards, but Leao has still not received suitable offers.
Milan are also working to sell Fikayo Tomori, who has attracted interest from Aston Villa, as well as Youssouf Fofana and Christopher Nkunku.
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What happened
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is reportedly set for direct talks with Rafael Leão to address the winger's future at the club. The meeting comes amid growing speculation that Turkish Süper Lig side Galatasaray could make a move for the Portugal international. Leão remains a key figure for Milan, and the talks are likely aimed at clarifying his status and reinforcing the club's commitment. Galatasaray's interest, if genuine, would represent one of the more surprising cross-league pursuits of recent windows given Leão's status and contract in Serie A.
Chance analysis
Leão is one of Milan's most valuable attacking assets, and any conversation involving owner Gerry Cardinale signals that the club is treating the Galatasaray rumours seriously rather than dismissing them publicly. The Portuguese forward's pace and creativity have been central to Milan's offensive identity since his breakout seasons, so clarity over his future directly shapes the club's summer planning. Galatasaray's reported interest adds an unusual twist, though the financial and competitive gulf between Serie A and the Turkish Süper Lig makes a straightforward transfer a complex proposition. For now, the story underscores uncertainty around one of Milan's headline players and the lengths the ownership is willing to go to keep the squad stable.
Leão's future at Milan is under active discussion, potentially affecting his availability and the club's attacking options depending on the outcome of Cardinale's talks.