Arsenal have reportedly failed in their pursuit of AC Milan winger Rafael Leao this month as the player wishes to stay with his current club and help them secure Champions League football next season. This is as per reports from Daily Cannon, which state that despite tensions with current coach Paulo Fonseca, Leao wishes to show his commitment to the club by staying on at least until the end of the current season.
Milan are currently having a mixed season in Serie A as they sit in eighth place with 27 points from 17 games, nine adrift of the UCL spots. Six draws and four defeats out of 17 games has greatly affected their momentum, resulting in an inconsistent start to the campaign. In this situation, Rafael Leao’s decision to stay on seems admirable, with his six goals and seven assists in 23 games helping the team in some way.
Additionally, the 24-year-old Portuguese winger signed a new long-term deal to extend his stay at the San Siro until June 2028, so there is absolutely no rush for the club or the player to make any big decisions.
Would Rafael Leao fit in at Arsenal?
Currently, the Gunners face a dilemma as they need a player who can provide a similar output to Bukayo Saka, with the Englishman out long-term with a hamstring injury. Should they sign Leao, however, he would prefer playing on the left, which would force Gabriel Martinelli out of position.
It is important to remember the monetary investment Arsenal have made in Martinelli, and are reportedly paying the Brazilian close to £180,000 per week in wages. Due to this constraint, it would be remiss of the north Londoners to not give him plenty chances to come good, which he has not really been able to achieve this season.
Leao, on the other hand, offers a completely different skill-set compared to the wingers Arsenal have. He is tall, strong and powerful and his primary effort is running at defenders with the ball – something which the Gunners lack a lot.
It will be interesting to see if they can change the player’s mind about the move.
