GdS: Why Leao’s exploits at the World Cup create an ‘explosive cocktail’ for Milan | OneFootball

The current situation surrounding Rafael Leao is very much at risk of becoming even more difficult for AC Milan in the coming weeks, a report claims.

La Gazzetta dello Sport talk about the ‘bizarre situation’ whereby Milan fans are obviously rooting for him to do well on the biggest stage of all, but then on the other hand some are even hoping that he does not impress too much as it may put an end to any chances of a renewal given the interest he would attract.

Being a protagonist at the World Cup is of course capable of shifting the balance in negotiations, but it is also hard to imagine that a subdued tournament could induce Leao’s representatives to lower the demands for a new contract, or induce a suitor to withdraw.

It is expected that in tomorrow’s game against Uruguay the 23-year-old will get a place in the starting eleven after having come on and scored within three minutes against Ghana. If he continues to be decisive, his value will soar towards the €150m demands that were set in stone during the summer due to his release clause.

There would be more than one club in the Premier League who are willing to put that amount on the plate, because a good World Cup would demonstrate his quality and add something special to his CV.

It seems like a bittersweet situation for the Rossoneri because the pride of having a decisive player in Qatar could in turn make the contractual negotiation, an ‘explosive cocktail’ as the paper puts it.

Clubs in England could try another lunge regardless as early as January, a situation that Milan obviously do not intend to take into consideration, but if the negotiation not only remained stalled for too long but unfortunately became dead-end, a sale would come into the equation.

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