Cristiano Ronaldo’s story with Portugal would possibly quickly be over, however there may be one participant who has the potential to reside as much as his legacy for the nationwide workforce – Rafael Leao.
The 23-year-old ahead is in the very best type of his profession after his starring function in serving to AC Milan win the Scudetto final season – scoring 14 targets in all competitions. This season he has 9 targets in 10 video games – and after Ronaldo’s bid to win the World Cup got here to a tearful finish, Leao has the power to step up and ease Portugal by way of a transition section.
Portugal are in determined want of latest stars as a result of their generational cycle of veteran gamers is about to come back to an finish. Leao is the apparent identify to guide them ahead – however to achieve the extent of Ronaldo, he must step away from the consolation zone of Serie A and and Italy, which dangers changing into a jail for his ambitions.
Rafael Leao could possibly be the Cristiano Ronaldo’s inheritor within the Portugal facet – he has a brilliant future
Leao must discover a membership that enables him to the very best of the very best – not simply in the very best participant in Serie A, which lacks star high quality.
The Portuguese star has a difficult contract scenario – along with his deal expiring in 2024 and is but to have it renewed. Membership chiefs Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara are optimistic he’ll put pen to paper on contemporary phrases – as are supervisor Stefano Piolo and the participant’s father.
Portuguese outlet Report have recommended there’s a risk Leao will signal an extension however the membership are nonetheless ready for his signature.
Ronaldo’s bid for the World Cup got here to a tearful ending as his workforce had been crushed by Morocco
THE CLOCK IS TIK-TOK-ING FOR LEAO
Leao continues to fret AC Milan along with his advances in the direction of the Premier League – after he appeared to observe Chelsea’s official TikTok account – earlier than the observe disappeared virtually instantly.
The gesture was notable in Italy and the very fact he cancelled his observe really made issues worse by suggesting he was overlaying up his admiration for Graham Potter’s outfit.
Shedding Leao could be an enormous blow for AC Milan – and it means the membership would lose the picture that they’re an formidable membership seeking to turn into the most effective on this planet. For Paolo Maldini, it might be an enormous political defeat if Leao was offered.
It isn’t till golf equipment can begin chatting with Leao a couple of free switch. This time subsequent yr, it will likely be approaching the purpose the place he can signal a pre-contractual settlement forward of his contract ending in June 2024.
If that occurs, it might be a monetary catastrophe and it looks like AC Milan’s recreation plan is already clear – if the ahead hasn’t signed a brand new deal by March, he can be offered in the summertime.
Leao continues to flirt with a transfer to Chelsea and dropping him could be an enormous blow for Milan
THE £85MILLION GAME-CHANGER
Proper now Leao is value round £85million and he’s a participant able to altering the face of any workforce. Within the Premier League, he would enhance any workforce seeking to win the title, comparable to Chelsea.
He could be an distinctive participant for the Blues – both as a winger or a second striker – and followers may see him develop right into a participant of Thierry Henry’s stage.
His bodily power mixed along with his uncooked pace will make him a high participant, and one who may assist deliver Chelsea nearer to Manchester Metropolis of their bid to deliver the glory days again to Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old is a game-changer who can deliver Chelsea nearer to rivals Manchester Metropolis
The Premier League is the best vacation spot for Leao, completely suiting his technical and tactical attributes. It will be an oasis that will permit him to turn into the very best Portuguese participant on the planet after Ronaldo.
What’s extra, Chelsea boss Potter is in love with Leao and he’ll make an effort to influence the membership’s hierarchy to place in a bid.
Maldini and Massara had hoped to have an settlement in place with Leao earlier than the World Cup to fend off Chelsea however now Milan supporters are scared of an exit.
CHELSEA ARE IN LOVE WITH SERIE A PLAYERS
The Blues are severe about signing Leao and their reported proposal to signal him is extra concrete than their provide from final yr, in line with Corriere dello Sport.
Chelsea would additionally be capable of assist Leao pay his £13.8m fantastic to former membership Sporting Lisbon over a contract dispute relationship again to June 2018.
Leao misplaced his attraction over the fantastic which got here after he terminated his take care of the membership after round 50 followers broke into their coaching floor and attacked their very own gamers. Milan have been unable to help with the issue, whereas Chelsea would make it go away.
Chelsea proprietor Todd Boehly is a large admirer of Leao’s and is severe about signing him
It appears inevitable Leao will be a part of Chelsea – particularly given their historical past of signing Serie A stars in recent times
In the mean time, Chelsea are main the best way of their pursuit of Leao and no different Serie A membership can come near difficult them. They’re probably the most lively membership within the Italian market and after prizing Kalidou Koulibaly and Jorginho from Napoli they’re now able to nab a 3rd.
Beforehand, Chelsea boasted a colony of Italian gamers comparable to Gianluca Vialli, Pierluigi Casiraghi, Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo – in addition to high gamers within the division like Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo.
Very quickly, they’ll lure one other star to Stamford Bridge in Leao – the very best participant within the division final season. Along with his contract scenario going unresolved and followers rising more and more anxious – his future seems to lie away from Italy.
