The name of Portuguese winger Rafael Leão has resurfaced as a top target for Barcelona in the summer transfer window, following reports of renewed efforts by renowned agent Jorge Mendes to facilitate the AC Milan winger’s move to the Catalan club.
According to the reports, Mendes has leveraged his strong relationship with Barcelona’s management to bring Leão back to the forefront, capitalizing on Milan’s willingness to listen to offers for the player due to a lower asking price than in previous seasons.
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The report indicates that Barcelona’s management believes completing the deal may first require selling Ferran Torres to free up space on the wage bill and secure part of the funds needed to sign the Portuguese star.
Ferran Torres is among the players expected to leave Barcelona this summer, especially with several clubs showing increasing interest in signing him. This could provide the club with a significant financial opportunity before he enters the final stage of his contract.
Meanwhile, Rafael Leão is highly regarded by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who sees him as one of the best options to strengthen the left wing thanks to his pace and ability to make a difference in one-on-one situations.
Reports also indicate that coach Hansi Flick is open to the idea of signing Leão, believing that his presence alongside Lamine Yamal would give Barcelona greater attacking power and add more variety to the team’s offensive play next season.
Sources confirm that the expected transfer fee for Leão is between €60 million and €70 million, a figure significantly lower than his valuation in previous years, making the deal more feasible if Barcelona succeeds in selling Ferran Torres.
The coming days will be crucial in determining the future of the deal, as Barcelona continues to explore all financial and sporting options while Jorge Mendes works to bridge the gap between the two sides, attempting to turn Joan Laporta’s long-standing interest in Rafael Leão into a formal transfer during the summer transfer window.
