Rafael Leão set to leave AC Milan for Galatasaray

A short clip on Galatasaray's social media was all it took to set the news alight: Rafael Leão appeared sitting on a plane, sending a greeting to the Turkish fans. Nothing more was needed to understand which way the wind was blowing.

The Portuguese winger, 27 years old, is on the verge of leaving AC Milan to join the Istanbul club. Galatasaray confirmed that talks have already begun to close the transfer, and according to media reports, Leão would sign a four-year contract with the Turkish side.

Does it sound strange that a player of his caliber would leave Serie A while still performing at a high level? It makes sense once you look at the context: Leão had also been courted by Aston Villa, though everything now points to Turkey as his next home.

From Lille to Milan, and now Istanbul

Leão's path is nothing new for those who have followed European soccer for a while. Milan brought him in back in 2019 from French side Lille, and since then he has become one of the most electric pieces of the rossoneri attack, with that ability to take on defenders and create danger down the wing that made him, at his peak, one of the most coveted wingers on the continent.

This year he was also part of the World Cup with the Portugal national team, underscoring his importance within the Portuguese squad despite the tough competition up front.

Now, with the move to the Turkish Super Lig all but set, Galatasaray adds a player with an international profile to a squad that has been looking to strengthen its project both domestically and in continental competitions. The administrative details between the two clubs still need to be finalized, but the image of the player traveling has already left little doubt about how this story ends.