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Extended Clip - Does Rafael Leao Want To Stay At AC Milan?
1.2k Plays3 years ago
After yet another disinterested performance by Rafael Leao following being benched in AC Milan's Milan derby loss to Inter, Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese discuss if the Portuguese star even wants to stay at Rossoneri.
This is an extended clip from this weeks free Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google podcasts.
To listen to ALL complete episodes of The Italian Football Podcast, go to Patreon.com/TIFP and become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
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Transcript
Introduction to Podcast
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast.
00:00:05
Speaker
Yeah, I want to discuss the out. I
Milan's Contract Talks Dilemma
00:00:08
Speaker
mean, the thing is, like, I saw a report on that because saying that actually Milana put the brakes on talks there a little bit because they need they can't afford to extend his contract when top four is at a risk. And Gazzetta said that.
Liao's Attitude and Contract Concerns
00:00:24
Speaker
And then they reported today, I think, that it's it's looking more far away than ever before. And his body language as well. He does not look like he's interested.
00:00:34
Speaker
He really doesn't look like he's interested. I think that's absolutely his body language in the last Not just the last two games in which he started as a sub but even predating that the last month 2023 his body language in 2023 Has been horrible. It is the body language of someone who is not happy who just can't be bothered and
00:00:58
Speaker
Yeah, that can't be bothered doesn't carry bothered. Yeah, totally indifferent indifferent. Not even not even and no, because when you show anger, you're some shows that you care, it shows that you care when you when you're angry, it shows that you you know, you want to win or
00:01:14
Speaker
you know you're reacting to something you know it's like going to a relationship it's like a couple together you know if one of the two gets angry with the other it shows that they care if they just don't say anything and they're completely indifferent they don't really give a shit
00:01:33
Speaker
Do you know what I mean?
Reasons Behind Liao's Dissatisfaction
00:01:35
Speaker
I think this is the way I look at this relationship between Liao and Milan. It's just that he just doesn't seem to care anymore. And I just think that right now, it doesn't look good at all for so many different reasons in terms of the chances of him renewing. Number one,
00:01:55
Speaker
he's been dropped. So he's not going to be happy about that. He's been dropped for the last two games. He doesn't start the Milan derby, the biggest game of the season for his club. Doesn't start that game. That can't be good. That's not going to improve chances of you signing a new contract. Number two, you look at Milan, how badly they're doing, how badly they're performing. The fact that they might not even qualify for the top four as it stands, as you're negotiating the contract.
Milan's Transfer Market Disappointment
00:02:22
Speaker
But also,
00:02:23
Speaker
you look at the work they've done in the transfer market, they win the Scudetto last summer and then last season, and then in the summer, they just buy youngsters basically, which we know the reasons for that. But to Liao, if you're a player, you know, that's building up to become one of the best players or plans to be one of the best players in the world, you look at that and already you're thinking, is this the right club? Then you see the lack of business in January at a time when they clearly, and I said it and I still believe they made a mistake, they needed to bring someone in in January to give them a jolt, they didn't do it.
00:02:53
Speaker
So he looks at that and sees they don't buy anyone in January either.
Financial Instability in Italian Football
00:02:59
Speaker
And also, he just looks at the overall state of Italian football right now that financially, how not just Milan, but everyone doesn't have any money. They become a feeder league. They're all broke. We've discussed all the scandals that are going on, Juventus, but also other clubs, Milan as well are being investigated, other clubs as well. He probably looks at the whole thing and you think to yourself, would you sign a
00:03:21
Speaker
Well, Milan aren't being investigated. That's not entirely true. What's happening is that the owners, the sale of Milan is being investigated. So it's not Milan being investigated. I think it's important to clarify that.
Liao's Consideration of Offers from Other Clubs
00:03:34
Speaker
If you were Liao, would you sign a new contract when you know that you can get an offer from the Premier League or from, well, let's just say the Premier League or another major superpower? Real Madrid.
00:03:49
Speaker
PSG or Madrid, where they will double your wages at least, right? They'll be able to pay off that outstanding debt that you owe to sporting Lisbon, but also not just from a financial point of view, but from a sporting point of view, you can actually join a club that can challenge for major trophies, not just
Liao's Future with Milan in Doubt
00:04:12
Speaker
in Europe, obviously the Champions League, we know Italian teams can't challenge for that, like Milan, but also domestically, like Milan, they're in a position where they're way off, even challenging domestically in Serie A, let alone in Europe. They're not going to win anything this season, they're not going to win a trophy, all the chances to trophies are gone, they're out of the coppa, they lost a super coppa, they're not going to win the Champions League, they're not going to win the Serie A, so they're not going to win anything this season.
00:04:38
Speaker
And he looks how long he's been there and he sees, okay, we won the Serie A, but they weren't in a position to be able to dominate from that and to build the winning cycle. So, of course, he's looking at... So, I mean, if I'm Liao, I'm looking at my future and I'm thinking, right, my contract runs out in 2024. I'm 20, was he 23 years old? Was he 24 now? So, you're looking at you and you're thinking, right, what am I going to... What am I staying here for? What's my next step?
00:05:03
Speaker
Well, I can stay at Milan at a club that's doing terrible, a club that's not got any money to invest, a club that, you know, or I can join a club where I can fulfill my sporting ambitions and also double the money. I mean, it's a no brainer, isn't
Decline of the Italian League and Player Decisions
00:05:18
Speaker
it? Let's be, let's be honest. We're Italian fans. I want, you know, everybody knows me. I want the Eteria to keep it close. Well, we both, I mean, the thing is like, it's like we both want the league to do well. But at the end of the day, there's no, why would, why would anyone?
00:05:33
Speaker
you