Roma eye Leao as Milan splurge over €50m on Moreira

Report says agent Jorge Mendes has offered out‑cast Rafael Leao to Roma as AC Milan commit to paying over €50 million for Diego Moreira, ITALY – MAY 10, saw Leao gesture at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium during a Serie A clash with Atalanta BC.

Roma's striking shortage

Roma are actively seeking a forward who can operate in the same spaces as Diego Moreira, a player the club had also targeted. The Italian side is prepared to spend roughly the same amount on Malick Fofana from Olympique Lyonnais, indicating a willingness to match Milan’s outlay.

AC Milan have already confirmed a fee of at least €50 million to bring Diego Moreira from RC Strasbourg, a sum that reflects their determination to secure the winger this summer. However, the club has struggled to find a buyer for Rafael Leao at the €50 million base fee plus €10 million in add‑ons.

Mendes' proposal and price shift

According to Belgian transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri, agent Jorge Mendes directly approached the Friedkin family to place Rafael Leao at Serie A side Roma. The asking price for Leao has been reduced to around €40 million plus add‑ons, a significant drop from the original valuation.

Roma close on Malick Fofana deal, eyeing €35‑40 million fee

Only genuine interest in Leao has come from Turkish clubs Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce, with Galatasaray remaining the sole party still in negotiations. Leao himself declared over the summer that Serie A was less suited to his game than the Premier League or LaLiga, and no offers from those leagues have materialised.

Obstacles and next steps

Should the move materialise, Leao would retain Champions League football and work under a coach whose tactics better suit his style, a factor highlighted by Mendes. After seven years at the San Siro, the Portuguese forward appears reticent to join another Italian club, but the lack of alternatives may make Roma the most viable option.

The next steps involve finalising the reduced €40 million fee with Roma and confirming the Friedkin family’s consent, while Milan continue to integrate Diego Moreira into their squad. The intertwined nature of the deals suggests a domino effect, with Roma also needing to allocate funds for Malick Fofana to complete their summer rebuilding.