Jorge Mendes brings FC Barcelona closer to a Serie A star

Jorge Mendes is working hard to place one of the stars of Serie A at FC Barcelona next season. The Portuguese agent seems to be on the right track for Rafael Leao's arrival at Spotify Camp Nou, at least regarding the player's opinion. However, negotiations with AC Milan are much more complex, as they do not plan to sell their main figure at San Siro.

For now, the key to the operation lies in the good relationship between Deco and Joan Laporta with Mendes, along with the insistence of the Milan '10' to wear the blue and garnet jersey and the Catalan return to the 1:1 rule. This season, the winger has 6 goals and 6 assists in 22 matches (1,535 minutes) after a first half of the season with many ups and downs for the 'rossoneri' team. The team has shown a good image in the Champions League but is far from the top of Serie A, which led to the dismissal of their coach.

For Barça, signing Rafa is possible if they finalize the sale of one of their 'heavyweights' at the end of the 2024-25 season. The blue and garnet team does not intend to pressure any of their 'cracks' to leave, but they also do not close the door to high offers for players that the coaching staff considers dispensable. Returning to the 1:1 rule, the club can reinvest every euro earned in the market into bringing in new reinforcements.

Rafael Leao only thinks about leaving Milan for Barça

In the last days of 2024, the English portal 'CaughtOffside' pointed out the interest of two Premier League giants in the Portuguese international. Manchester United and Arsenal could enter the bidding for Leao, but the forward is clear about his plan for the summer: to wait as long as possible for an offer from Barça. He has made this clear to his agent, who is already working to pave the way to Catalonia for the player from Almada.

The operation, however, will not be easy, as Milan insists on asking for a minimum of 100 million euros to let him go. Rafa is under contract with the 'rossoneri' until 2028, and the departure of coach Paulo Fonseca could be key for the '10' to prefer to stay at San Siro if negotiations with Barcelona do not progress. This Monday, Milan will seek the first trophy of the season against Inter in the final of the Supercoppa Italiana, with Leao's participation in the 'air' due to a muscle injury.