Recent reports suggest that Rafael Leão is no longer keen on joining Barcelona, primarily due to concerns over his ability to secure a spot in the starting lineup ahead of Rafinha or Lamine Yamal.
However, Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, and sporting director, Deco, still view the Portuguese forward as a valuable addition to the squad. The Catalan club is actively searching for a marquee signing to strengthen their attacking options, and Leão remains one of their key targets.
Leão’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has previously explored the possibility of a transfer to Barcelona. However, financial difficulties prevented the club from pursuing the deal at the time, as AC Milan demanded a hefty €100 million fee for their star player.
Now, with Barcelona’s financial situation improving, they are in a stronger position to negotiate, and Milan appears more open to selling Leão for a lower fee of around €65 million. The Portuguese forward has reportedly become less integral to Milan’s long-term plans, making his departure more feasible.
According to the Spanish newspaper El Nacional, Barcelona is considering a swap deal to facilitate Leão’s arrival. As part of the proposal, they are willing to offer young midfielder Fermín López in exchange.
Fermín had a promising start to his career under Xavi Hernández and was seen as a rising talent within the squad. However, following the arrival of Dani Olmo and shifts in the team’s tactical setup, his role has been reduced to that of a substitute.
While Barcelona still values him highly, they believe including him in the deal could help them secure Leão’s services, especially given the surplus of midfield options at the club.
The success of this potential swap will now depend on Milan’s stance. The Italian club will need to evaluate whether Fermín López aligns with their squad needs and overall strategy.
If they find the proposal appealing, negotiations could accelerate in the upcoming transfer window. Otherwise, Barcelona may need to reconsider their approach, possibly exploring alternative ways to finalize the deal for Leão.
With Barcelona determined to bring in a new attacking star, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Leão makes the move to Camp Nou. His addition would provide the club with a versatile attacking option, but the final decision rests on Milan’s willingness to engage in further negotiations.
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