€150 million Serie A forward rules out exit amid Barcelona links: “My future is here”

With Barcelona looking for a new left-winger in the summer transfer window, the name of AC Milan and Portugal forward Rafael Leao has emerged as a potential target.

The former Lille attacker has enjoyed a solid spell in Italy with the Rossoneri and has admirers in Barcelona, with club president Joan Laporta himself understood to be a fan.

With the Catalans searching for a player who can make an impact right off the bat, Leao, who has a €150 million release clause at Milan, has been seen as an option.

Leao rules out exit

However, speaking at a media event, Leao has pretty much ruled out the possibility of leaving AC Milan in the summer, pouring cold water over Barcelona’s hopes of signing him.

“In Milan, they helped me grow as a man and as a player. I can’t leave them. My future is in Milan. My upbringing is based on loyalty,” he said, as quoted by SPORT.

It was always going to be difficult for Barcelona to prise Leao away from AC Milan, especially given the club’s financial situation.

Now with the player himself ruling out the possibility of a departure, any move for the Portuguese forward is very much off the table.

No lack of alternatives

However, Barcelona have a number of other left-sided attackers that they are looking at as targets for the summer.

The name of Napoli speedster Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been linked as well, while Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal and Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton & Hove Albion are also on the radars.