Reports suggest that Manchester City have now joined the race to capture a Serie A star who is also a Chelsea target, with Pep Guardiola looking to make additions to his squad for next season.
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Serie A's 2021/22 Most Valuable Player Rafael Leao has once again started the season brightly, having already scored three goals and provided six assists in all competitions for AC Milan, giving a good indication as to why Chelsea tried to sign the Portugal international during the past transfer window.
Milan icon and club sporting director Paolo Maldini has now confirmed that, although the offer was not formal, the Blues did make an approach for the 23-year-old.
"Rafa knows that to become even stronger, the solution is to stay with us. We are a young and growing team," Maldini told Sky Italia.
"We intend to do great things and grow with him. If he then reaches a higher level than Milan, we can think about it.
"An official offer from Chelsea never arrived, but on an informal level it did.
"Of course, it was refused."
Last season, the Almada native scored 14 goals and assisted another 12 strikes in 42 appearances for the Rossoneri, and now, according to Calciomercato, City are also keen on taking the attacker's talents to the Etihad Stadium, with it being claimed that Guardiola has become a big fan of the player.
The Citizens are short of attacking players capable of playing out wide following the departures of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, so Leao would likely be a welcome addition for the Spanish tactician.
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With the Milan hierarchy eyeing an extension for their star player, the reported price tag for the winger could reportedly rise to as much as €120 million (R2.1 billion).
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