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As the days go by, the chances of Rafael Leao remaining at AC Milan for the coming season seem to be growing quite rapidly. La Gazzetta dello Sport report that the defeat against Cagliari on May 24th – which completed the collapse and confirmed no Champions League football for 2026-27 – could have been Leao’s last game for Milan. Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial! After seven seasons marked by two trophies, 80 goals, applause, but also criticism and jeers, the story could have ended. Instead, yesterday in Perth, Leao began another season with the Rossoneri, after declaring a desire to leave. Whether he’ll stay until next May is unclear at the moment, but he’s certainly back and perhaps something has been rekindled within him. In these first few days with the team, he’s maybe realised that divorce isn’t the only option and that his marriage to Milan can be ‘saved’. The Portuguese has once again felt pampered and respected by his team-mates. The words of Matteo Gabbia, Luka Modric and Davide Bartesaghi have confirmed that he’s still loved at Milan, and the former Lille player has begun to look at his future differently. In other words, don’t think of separation as the only solution. The market’s developments between now and September 1st are unpredictable, but his departure is no longer a given. A softened stance At the end of May, it wasn’t a given that Leao would still be playing for Milan. The words he uttered in Portugal and then reiterated overseas (“I think I’ve already given everything I had. I’d be happy to try a new challenge, in a new league”) seemed like a farewell. The management were not at all pleased with his public statements, which risked devaluing his value. Then came the World Cup, which didn’t particularly help him, as he scored a goal against Uzbekistan (the fifth of five Portugal scored) and provided the assist for Goncalo Ramos’ winner against Croatia. Overall, however, he lacked the consistency of use or performance that could have prompted a top club to make a significant offer. Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have been tracking him for some time and had been in contact with Gerry Cardinale and his men. However, they have not submitted an offer that would convince the American. Buying Leao would cost €50-60m, and the two Turkish clubs haven’t come close to that figure. That’s why the No.10 flew to Perth and resumed his Milan tenure. He didn’t have an offer that intrigued him, and a head-on confrontation wasn’t his intention. Now he’s back and there’s no guarantee he’ll be packing his bags. Rumours continue in Turkey about being Galatasaray ready to increase their pressure, but flying to Istanbul isn’t Leao’s first option. He didn’t formally reject a move to the Super Lig, but he has almost closed the door as it stands. Above all, he’s smiling again, in training and even in matches. A sign that he’s back to being himself, wearing the same shirt as he has for seven years. What next? The end of the story, therefore, is yet to be written. For reasons related to the transfer market and Amorim’s decisions, the former United manager will have the final say. In recent days, Ruben has preferred not to go too far and to talk about the team and not Rafa, but he is evaluating him thoroughly to see if he can truly adapt to the immediate pressure he demands when winning back possession. Speaking yesterday after the match, the coach dodged the subject: “What do I think of his first week on the job? What I said in the press conference: if you’re a Milan player, you’re lucky and you have to enjoy yourself. He’s doing that, and today he helped the team, which is my focus. But I rate him the same as the others.” It could also be a way to take pressure off him for the future, because everyone always expects a decisive play from Leao. Yesterday, when he came on in the final half hour, he almost provided an assist for Christopher Nkunku but for Ivan Provedel’s sharp diving intervention. He linked up well with Ramos, and maybe he’ll try again on Saturday against Chelsea. Meanwhile, his journey with Milan has resumed yesterday. If and when it ends, we’ll know in the coming weeks.