Rai: ‘Bipartisan denials’ quickly emerge after bizarre Leao-Osimhen swap story | OneFootball

A rather sensational story was launched yesterday regarding a swap deal between AC Milan and Napoli involving Rafael Leao and Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen’s future was the subject of speculation all summer and Sky even reported that Milan made a late attempt to try and sign him, something Zlatan Ibrahimovic personally led, before he ended up moving to Galatasaray on a loan deal.

Gerardo Fasano – who works as a journalist for Ruleta Sport – spoke to AreaNapoli.it about the future of the Nigerian striker and he put forward the idea that a shock exchange deal is in the pipeline.

“I received sensational news about Victor Osimhen. The player, as is known, is liked by Milan. The Rossoneri management, in order to get to the centre-forward, would be willing to sacrifice Leao,” he began.

“It would be the right weapon to convince Napoli to sell the striker. The Portuguese player does not have an idyllic relationship with the environment. In Campania he could replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia if the latter were to be sold.”

Obviously a story of such magnitude must be taken with a pinch of salt, and now Ciro Venerato – a RAI journalist – spoke to TG Sport to give his take on the ‘story’, with AreaNapoli.it again publishing his comments.

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“Bipartisan denials are raining down on the transfer rumour circulating this morning in Milan. There is no plan for a straight swap between Leao and Osimhen in the winter transfer window,” he said.

“The Nigerian has a January release clause valid only for foreign clubs. So he can’t free himself from the Turkish club for the Diavolo. Furthermore, Napoli does not intend to take on Leao’s mega salary.

“A negotiation born from the imagination of the media but which has not touched the respective clubs at all. Leao will remain in Italy until June, only after that will his future be evaluated.

“Likewise Osimhen. Both could be liked by the Premier League without forgetting PSG, who at different times negotiated both.”

The hope for Milan is that Leao gets out of what is currently a difficult moment for him in terms of form, answering the challenge from Paulo Fonseca and becoming a consistent top level player.