FC Barcelona has made enquiries regarding the possible signing of AC Milan winger Rafael Leao according to SPORT and Gazetta Dello Sport in Italy, citing anonymous sources.
Barça tried to sign Leao in two consecutive summers when there were also failed attempts to land Nico Williams.
As an ally of his agent Jorge Mendes, the Catalans’ president Joan Laporta has been a great admirer of the 27-year-old.
Whenever he reached out to his contemporaries at Milan, however, Laporta was always directed towards Leao’s $171 million (€150 million) price tag.
In 2026, that’s what it is believed Barcelona needs to table in order to land Julian Alvarez.
Reports in Argentina say Alvarez has already agreed to join his “dream” club which he fell in love with as a youth watching his idol and now Argentina teammate Lionel Messi.
The sum is hard for Barça to raise, however, and they will depend on player sales to get there.
Still, according to the Italian press, this hasn’t stopped the La Liga champion asking about Leao alongside Manchester United, Tottenham and Saudi Arabian outfits.
His price tag has now dropped to a much more affordable $69 million (€60 million). With former United boss Ruben Amorim in charge at the San Siro, his system of false wingers makes Leao surplus to requirements on a contract which runs until mid-2028.
FC Barcelona has no real need for Rafael Leao in 2026
After signing Anthony Gordon for $80 million (€70 million), while also boasting Raphinha, Hansi Flick has no real pressing need for another left winger.
With his two assists for Harry Kane coming off the bench for England at the World Cup against DR Congo, and therefore helping the Three Lions mount a 2-1 Last 32 comeback win, Gordon has revealed himself to be the kind of hard worker that Flick loves.
At the same time, Raphinha’s future is uncertain. He’s started to show signs of wear and tear at the age of 29, with a number of hamstring knocks leading him to miss key matches such as the Champions League quarterfinal exit to Atletico Madrid last term.
Saudi Arabia is calling, and if one of its moneyed Pro League giants makes a bid for Raphinha that sounds good to the club and the player, FC Barcelona could end up undermanned on the left flank possibly opening the Spotify Camp Nou front door to Leao.