Rafael Leao admits desire in playing Premier League football

AC Milan forward Rafael Leao has expressed his desire to play in the Premier League, a statement that could attract interest from Chelsea.

The 23-year-old has been a standout young talent in European football this season, delivering impressive performances with 13 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.

AC Milan’s season has been a mixed bag, as they failed to mount a strong defense of their Serie A title and now face the risk of missing out on Champions League qualification.

The team’s recent elimination from the semi-finals of the current Champions League campaign, suffering a 1-0 defeat to city rivals Inter Milan with a 3-0 aggregate deficit, further highlighted the need for reinforcements.

Leao’s performances have been a shining light in an otherwise challenging season for AC Milan, particularly his notable displays against newly crowned Serie A champions Napoli in April.

Speculation regarding his future has been rampant throughout the season, with Manchester City and Chelsea among the clubs linked with the Portuguese winger.

Although AC Milan secured a significant coup by securing Rafael Leao to a new five-year contract earlier this month, his ambitions to seek new challenges beyond the San Siro remain undiminished.

In a recent interview with Record, Leao admitted his attraction to the Premier League, citing its competitiveness, exciting football, strong teams, and global audience.

While acknowledging Serie A’s current strong position in international football, he hinted at a potential move to the Premier League in the future.

Chelsea, who reportedly made an attempt to sign Leao last summer, might find encouragement in his recent comments.

The London club had offered Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic as part of a swap deal, backed by a budget of £87 million from co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

However, Milan stood firm and refused to entertain the proposal, given their success in winning Serie A and qualifying for the Champions League, which reduced their financial pressures.

Despite renewed interest from Chelsea in January, buoyed by Leao’s contract situation, the player’s recent commitment to AC Milan suggests that any potential move to the Premier League may have to wait.

With Leao’s contract running down, future developments will be closely watched, as fans anticipate the possibility of witnessing another talented Portuguese winger gracing the Premier League.