Milan turn to El Mala as Amorim reportedly freezes Leão out
Quick summary
AC Milan are reportedly eyeing a move for El Mala as a potential replacement for Rafael Leão, who is being frozen out by Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceRafael Leão has fallen further out of Rúben Amorim’s plans at Milan, with the Rossoneri now eyeing Cologne’s Said El Mala as they reshape their attack.
According to Corriere dello Sport , Amorim has decided that Leão is not part of his technical project, a stance reaffirmed to the player’s entourage in the hours after the recent summit with owner Gerry Cardinale.
Leão was left out of the squad for the final pre-season friendly against Manchester United in Poland with a muscle injury, one that could even cost him the season opener against Torino, but the coach appears intent on leaving him out by choice for the rest of the campaign.
In Amorim’s possession-based 3-4-2-1, built on dominating the opposition half, there is deemed to be no room for a player less suited to tight exchanges and off-the-ball movement.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Rafael Leao of AC Milan makes a run towards goal during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images) Galatasaray the only suitor as Milan lower Leão demands The problem, as it has been for weeks, is finding a buyer. Milan want to sell and Leão is willing to leave, but a satisfactory offer is required.
For now, only Galatasaray are concretely in the running, and they can return to the table having been told by Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli that he wishes to stay in London.
Crucially, Milan have lowered their demands: Leão could now be sold for an offer approaching €50m, bonuses included, with the Rossoneri awaiting an official bid before the player decides whether to accept a move to Istanbul.
Should Leão depart, along with Christopher Nkunku , Milan will move for a new forward. Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri has slipped down the list, the Gunners are reluctant to loan him out over concerns for his development, despite Mikel Arteta publicly backing the youngster, and in his place, Milan have taken a liking to El Mala, the winger who has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s brightest young talents.
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
According to the report, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has decided to freeze Rafael Leão out of his plans, opening the door for a potential transfer. In response, AC Milan are proactively identifying replacement options and have turned their attention to El Mala. The situation suggests both clubs could be in for a busy transfer window, with Leão's future at Old Trafford in serious doubt after falling out of favor. Milan's interest in El Mala indicates they are preparing for life without the Portuguese forward.
Chance analysis
Leão is a high-value asset whose status directly affects Milan's attacking output. If he is effectively being pushed out by Amorim, Milan's urgent need for a creative winger becomes a priority in the transfer market. El Mala's profile as a replacement would need to be assessed for tactical fit. From a prediction standpoint, any uncertainty around Leão's availability weakens Milan's offensive ceiling until a replacement is secured.
Milan's attack could be weakened if Leão leaves before a suitable replacement like El Mala is signed; Manchester United's plans under Amorim are clarified by offloading unwanted players.
Milan may face a period of reduced attacking threat if Leão departs before a replacement is integrated, affecting upcoming match projections.