Milan have refuted claims that negotiations between the club and Rafael Leão over a contract renewal have broken down.
Talks between the two parties have indeed become prolonged. Reports have alleged that they are struggling to find common ground in discussion regarding a release clause as well as representative fees.
Leão’s current deal expires next June.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported this morning that negotiations had now started to become sour with tensions rising around the boardroom table, specifically between the player and technical director Paolo Maldini, as relayed by Foot Italia. Carlo Laudisa claimed that talks had specifically reached an impasse due to Milan’s stubbornness to lower Leão’s existing €150m release clause.
In retaliation to these suggestions, the club released an official statement via Twitter, reading:
“Regarding the article published today by the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport entitled: ‘Leão Milan total breakdown’, AC Milan would like to clarify that negotiations with Rafael Leão have not broken down.
“The journalistic storytelling of an alleged frost between the parties is not only totally unfounded but also detrimental to the club and its player. AC Milan continues, in fact, talks with Leão and his entourage in a serene and professional atmosphere.”
Moreover, the player himself also took to Twitter to voice his own approval at the story being refuted. Replying to Fabrizio Romano’s reporting of the statement, Leão replied, “Thanks bro.”
