AC Milan accept Galatasaray's €45m offer for Rafael Leao

AC Milan have accepted a 45 million euro offer from Turkish club Galatasaray for forward Rafael Leao, though the Portuguese international has expressed a preference for a move to the English Premier League. The transfer saga has unfolded over the past week, with the player bidding an emotional farewell to his teammates on Friday, August 28, ahead of Milan's Serie A match against Venezia.

The Italian club agreed to the fee from Galatasaray on August 27, which includes up to 5 million euros in potential add-ons. The Turkish side has also reportedly offered Leao a salary package worth between 10 and 12 million euros net per season. However, the 27-year-old is said to be awaiting a matching offer from Aston Villa, who have been in discussions with Milan but have proposed a loan deal with an obligation to buy, a structure Milan prefers to avoid in favor of an immediate permanent sale.

Leao, who joined Milan from Lille in 2019, has spent seven seasons at the club, making 291 appearances and scoring 80 goals. He was a key part of the squad that won the Serie A title in the 2021-22 season. In a statement to Sky Sport Italia, Leao confirmed his departure, saying, "I said goodbye to my...