The reasons why FC Barcelona does not see the signing of Rafa Leão completely clear

One of the pending tasks for FC Barcelona facing the upcoming summer transfer market is to secure the services of a 'top' left winger. This is in order to strengthen their offensive line, which, despite having Raphinha performing in that position and delivering truly impressive statistics (17 goals and 10 assists in 26 matches), could benefit from the presence of a natural player in that position to fully exploit that side. This is something that the '11', who tends to play with total freedom and move through different areas of the attack, often in a more centralized manner, does not provide as much.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Barcelona has several candidates on their list to strengthen their attack with a pure left winger. One of them is Rafa Leão, a 25-year-old forward from AC Milan, an option that seems to divide opinions in the Barcelona board due to the pros and cons of such a potential signing.

Rafa Leão, a very attractive signing for the Barcelona sports management

In this sense, there is no doubt that Rafa Leão could be a stellar acquisition for FC Barcelona. The Portuguese player, when consistent in his performance, has shown that he could be a 'top' asset: a winger with an explosive profile on the left side, a skilled dribbler, fast, difficult to dispossess, creative in attack, capable of entering the area from the flank and with an excellent shot, allowing him to have a notable efficiency in front of goal when in position to score, as well as having a great strike from outside the box.

However, despite all these attractive qualities of Rafa Leão in the offensive aspect and the many benefits his arrival at Barcelona could bring, such as the good relationship between the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, and Joan Laporta, emphasis is placed on the fact that Barcelona's coaches have reservations concerning a negative aspect that could prevent a definitive consensus for his signing.

Arguments that spark debate in the Portuguese player's signing for the Catalan team

Specifically, the Catalan board expresses concern about the alleged lack of defensive commitment from the Portuguese player when collaborating with the full-back. In this regard, Barcelona understands that having two very offensive wingers, with Lamine Yamal on the right, a player more geared towards offense than defense (although he has improved in this aspect), could complicate the team's defensive transition when it is necessary to retreat.

Furthermore, it is considered that Rafa Leão, on the other hand, needs ample space to deploy his offensive game. However, against compact and well-organized defenses, he would face greater challenges, an important aspect to consider when playing for a Barcelona that frequently faces teams with a solid and closed defense.

Therefore, it is evident that his potential signing could generate debate, in addition to considering his high price, as AC Milan would not let him go for less than 90 million euros. A sum that would require a confident decision from Barcelona.