Fenerbahçe Deny Leao Offer: "No €100 Million Bid"
Fenerbahçe have officially denied reports of a €100 million bid for Rafael Leao. Meanwhile, the club is said to have overtaken Galatasaray as favorites to sign the winger.
Fenerbahçe Issue Official Denial: "No €100 Million Offer"
A striking development emerged in the Rafael Leao transfer saga in the last few hours. Fenerbahçe issued a statement to fans denying reports that a €100 million offer had been made for the Portuguese winger: "No offer of this kind has been presented to the player or his club. Our only focus is the return leg against Górnik Zabrze in the Champions League second qualifying round." Notably, the club made this statement just before Wednesday's return leg in Poland.
Fenerbahçe Now the Favorites
According to reports, Rafael Leao has been on the market for some time, with two Turkish giants — Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray — emerging as the most determined suitors. Galatasaray made the first move with an offer exceeding €10 million per year. However, Fenerbahçe are now said to have greater financial flexibility and spending capacity, putting them in control of the process.
An Italy Visit Is Coming
A Fenerbahçe representative is expected to travel to Milan next week to get a closer look at the details of a "Leao to Istanbul" operation. The deal isn't simple, but it's not impossible either — as of today, Fenerbahçe are described as the club with the best chance of signing Milan's number 10.
The Price: Around €40 Million
Reports suggest Leao's transfer fee sits around €40 million, possibly even a bit lower — a reflection of the fact that his recent on-field form hasn't matched his best days. Milan are said to be reluctant to loan him out late in the window, preferring to free themselves entirely from his contract, which carries a wage between €5.5 and €7 million per year. On the salary side, the reported €10 million offers appear to be a solid starting point to convince him.
Leao Currently in Brazil
The player is reportedly in Brazil at the moment, attending an event for his own clothing brand, Son is Son, and training with Corinthians. Leao posted "Obrigado" ("thank you") on Instagram in appreciation of the hospitality shown to him. He's expected to fly directly from Brazil to Perth soon, where Milan will play Perth Glory on August 1 and Inter on August 5. He's expected to watch the first match from the sidelines, with his status for the derby still uncertain.
Bottom Line: Clarity Expected Within 10 Days
According to the report, the direction of this transfer should become much clearer within the next 10 days, with Fenerbahçe's Italy visit and the Górnik Zabrze return leg both expected to speed up the process.
This article is based on reporting by Luca Bianchin via Gazzetta dello Sport.
