Rafael Leao Names Manchester United as Favorite Club Amid Transfer Rumors
Rafael Leao has never hidden who he grew up watching. Now he has spelled it out – and in doing so, he has poured fuel on a summer transfer story that refuses to go away.
The AC Milan forward, long linked with a move to Old Trafford, has named Manchester United as his favourite Premier League club, citing Cristiano Ronaldo as the reason he first fell for the red shirt.
Speaking on the Cernucci podcast, Leao was asked whether he follows the English top flight and if any club in particular draws his eye. His answer will not have gone unnoticed in Manchester.
“Yeah of course,” he said. “I like (Manchester) United because my idol is Cristiano Ronaldo, so back then, I used to watch them. I like Arsenal also.”
A simple line. A significant hint. And it lands at a moment when United are actively scouring the market for a winger ahead of their return to the Champions League.
Cut‑price chance for a Champions League United
Leao, 26, is one of the most coveted wide forwards in Europe. He has hit 60 goals in 291 appearances for Milan, mixing raw pace with power and a one‑on‑one threat that fits the Premier League’s tempo.
The timing of his comments is striking. Milan’s failure to secure European football has opened the door to a potential cut‑price exit, with the Portuguese international believed to be attainable for around £43 million – a figure that would usually sound light for a player of his pedigree and age.
United are not alone in circling. Chelsea and Barcelona have both been linked with the former Lille man, who can operate across the front line but does his most devastating work off the left. The financial realities at the Camp Nou and the ongoing rebuild at Stamford Bridge place all three clubs in a very different position, yet the chase is real.
Saudi Arabian clubs and sides in Turkiye, including Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, have also been credited with interest. Those options appear to be going nowhere. Recent reports indicate Leao has no appetite for a move to either destination, keeping the focus firmly on Europe’s traditional elite.
Carrick’s rebuild gathers pace
Inside Old Trafford, the plan is clear. Manchester United want more firepower out wide to complement their return to the Champions League and to deepen a squad that ran thin last season.
Michael Carrick, who steered United to a third‑placed finish and back into Europe’s top competition, has already set the tone for the summer. He knows this group needs help.
“I think, again, as a football club, you want to keep moving forward. We certainly do,” the new United boss said when outlining his transfer-window stance. “I think it's acknowledged we're at this stage, and the dynamics and the balance of the direction we're at, where we've ended up getting to, and finishing in the league, there's obviously work to do.
“It's quite obvious, with certain players leaving, there's a bit of work to do, but this one is not any more important than the last one, it's what's ahead of us as a football club to try and make the most of it.”
The work has already started. United are on the verge of landing Atalanta midfielder Ederson in a £38m deal as they look to strengthen the spine of the side. The next phase is about adding incision and goals from the flanks.
That is where Leao comes into sharp focus. A winger with Champions League experience, entering his prime, openly fond of the club and shaped by the same idol who once lit up Old Trafford. For a recruitment team tasked with marrying value and star quality, the profile almost sells itself.
The question now is simple: with the door seemingly open and the price set, do United turn a boyhood admiration into a marquee signing – or watch one of Europe’s most explosive forwards light up another club’s future?
