Igli Tare has offered a blunt verdict on Rafael Leão after his move to Galatasaray. Speaking to Weszło in comments translated from Polish, the former AC Milan sporting director said Leao had the talent Milan expected, but that football was no longer his priority. Leao left Milan after seven years at the club.
Tare's assessment of Leao
Tare did not frame the departure as a simple question of ability. He said: “Leao was, however, a player from whom we all expected something more. I think football was no longer a priority for him. That is the key to understanding this situation.”
He also described Leao as “a fantastic guy” and said he wanted the best for him. That softer line sits beside a much harsher judgement, and it is the one that will travel furthest, especially because Leao was chosen as the best Serie A player in the 2021/2022 season.
The current numbers at Galatasaray do not suggest a player who has faded away on the pitch. Leao has played 11 matches there, and in the league he has 4 goals and 1 assist in 8 appearances.
Milan's late-window exit
There is a second layer to the story beyond Tare's view of Leao's mindset. Tare later told football-italia.net that Milan changed system five days before the end of the transfer window, added that no concrete offers ever arrived for Leao, and said the club were waiting on movement involving Joe Gomez before paperwork could be signed.
Milan had an agreement with Liverpool for Gomez, but the chain of moves did not come together cleanly. Instead, they signed Issa Doumbia at the last minute as a signing for the future.
That is the part of the story that explains the timing, while Tare's remarks explain the mood around the player. Leao's exit now sits between a tactical reset at Milan and a forward who is already producing in Turkey, with 4 league goals and 1 assist after 8 appearances.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
