Transfer Market: Rafael Leão to Barcelona Only Through 'Rashford Formula'

Rafael Leão's name is once again being linked with Barcelona as a potential reinforcement for Hansi Flick's attack. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Catalan club has reportedly inquired about the contractual situation of the Portuguese international forward, who is not in Ruben Amorim's plans and is expected to end his tenure at AC Milan.

While Rafael Leão's quality is highly regarded in Catalonia, where his signing has been considered in previous seasons, this avenue doesn't appear to be a priority for the club. Barcelona has already secured Anthony Gordon and has Raphinha for the same position, ensuring both competitiveness and necessary squad rotation.

The transfer fee, which could be around 60 million euros, is another factor causing the board to hesitate. The primary financial effort was expended on Gordon, and the top target to complete the attack and replace Robert Lewandowski remains Julián Álvarez, a deal that could exceed 100 million euros.

However, one formula could pave the way for Leão's arrival: a loan, similar to the model used last season with Marcus Rashford and Manchester United. This possibility would gain traction if Atlético Madrid proves unyielding and refuses to let Álvarez leave, despite Leão and the Argentine being players with very distinct profiles.

The main obstacle, according to the Italian publication, is that Milan would only agree to a loan as an intermediate step towards a permanent transfer, demanding an obligatory purchase clause. This condition seems difficult for Barcelona to accept, especially considering they didn't even activate the 30 million euro purchase option for Rashford, deeming it too high.

Currently, Rafael Leão is focused on the national team, who will face Spain in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 next Monday. However, the forward is expected to sort out his future after the competition. The attacker has previously been linked with Saudi, Turkish, and English clubs.