AC Milan forward Rafael Leao announced on Sunday his intention to leave the Italian club during the upcoming summer transfer window, sparking interest from Manchester United as manager Michael Carrick looks to rebuild his squad.
The 26-year-old Portugal international is reportedly available for a reduced transfer fee of approximately £43 million, a valuation influenced by AC Milan failing to qualify for the Champions League and settling for a Europa League spot.
Manchester United is actively seeking a new winger to reinforce their team following a third-place Premier League finish under Carrick, which secured their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
Leao disclosed his decision to pursue a career move outside of Italy while reflecting on his tenure with the Serie A club.
"I'm proud as I made history at AC Milan but I want new chapter. I feel ready to play in another league.
I did my best for Milan, but it's time to try another challenge," said Leao.
The attacker previously expressed his admiration for the English club due to his childhood footballing inspiration.
"Yeah of course I like (Manchester) United because my idol is Cristiano Ronaldo, so back then, I used to watch them.
I like Arsenal also," said Leao.
During the recent campaign, Leao scored nine goals and recorded three assists while playing mostly as a central forward, though his career statistics show 61 goals and 56 assists across 208 appearances primarily from the left wing.
Manchester United has already initiated its summer recruitment strategy, with reports indicating the club is close to finalizing a transfer deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson.
Carrick addressed the upcoming transfer window by emphasizing the continuous need for squad development and progression.
"I think the beauty of the next transfer window, for everybody, it's always the biggest thing in the world, and the most important transfer window of all time, for every club, I think," said Carrick.
The manager noted that specific player departures necessitate roster adjustments ahead of the new season.
"That's just the nature of how it's been created, to be honest, and I think, again, as a football club, you want to keep moving forward.
We certainly do. As a football club, we want to keep moving forward," said Carrick.
Carrick finalized his assessment by evaluating the strategic significance of the upcoming signing period compared to previous windows.
"I think it's acknowledged we're at this stage, and the dynamics and the balance of the direction we're at, where we've ended up getting to, and finishing in the league, there's obviously work to do," said Carrick.
The club aims to integrate new signings before the competitive season begins.
"It's quite obvious, with certain players leaving, there's a bit of work to do, but this one is not any more important than the last one, it's what's ahead of us as a football club to try and make the most of it," said Carrick.
