Rafael Leao has opted to join Galatasaray after Aston Villa failed to improve their offer enough to satisfy both the player and Milan. The Turkish club are set to pay €40m, with a further €3m available in performance-related bonuses.
Quick facts
- Galatasaray have agreed a €40m deal for Leao, plus €3m in add-ons.
- The Turkish side offered the Portugal international better salary terms than Aston Villa.
- Leao could travel for his medical examination within 24 hours.
- Milan initially sought €50m and another €10m in bonuses.
Several reports have now indicated that the Portugal international has made his final choice. Galatasaray had already reached an agreement with Milan on the transfer and had presented Leao with a more lucrative contract than Villa’s proposal.
Despite that advantage, Leao had been expected to favour a move to the Premier League. Aston Villa offered the appeal of England’s top flight, along with the status and greater exposure that a transfer to Birmingham could bring.
Two significant obstacles stood in Villa’s way. The first was the structure of their offer: Milan were being asked to accept a season-long loan followed by a compulsory purchase, rather than an immediate permanent transfer.
Leao has ultimately approved the Galatasaray move and may leave for his medical tests in the next 24 hours. Milan had initially set a €50m valuation, plus €10m in potential extras, but accepted that their relationship with the forward was coming to an end and lowered their demands to €40m with €3m in bonuses.
