Rafael Leao Trains with Corinthians Amid Transfer Speculations

Rafael Leao’s summer has barely begun, yet the images coming out of São Paulo already feel like a teaser for the next chapter of his career.

The AC Milan forward, fresh from World Cup duty with Portugal, turned up at Corinthians’ training complex during his holiday in Brazil and didn’t just stroll around for photos. He trained. In full Corinthians kit.

Clips shared on Corinthians’ official X account showed the 27-year-old working on the pitch at the Brazilian club’s facilities, moving through drills in a black-and-white jersey that instantly set social media humming. No half-pace, no holiday jog. Proper work.

Leao also spent time with Corinthians players and staff, chatting and posing for pictures as if he had been part of the group for longer than a fleeting off-season visit. For a fanbase always on the lookout for stars with European pedigree, it was a tantalising sight.

Back in Italy, though, the situation is more complex.

Leao is due to return to Milan at the end of the month to rejoin the Rossoneri and begin preparations for the new season. His future, however, sits squarely in the shop window. The winger is expected to leave the club this summer and has already admitted that he has discussed a possible exit with Milan.

For now, the market has not matched the noise. The only concrete offer on the table has come from Fenerbahce, and Leao is not willing to accept that move. No bidding war, no late twist yet. Just a player whose talent is widely recognised, waiting for the right door to open.

So he keeps working.

From the Giuseppe Meazza, where he has often been the spark in Milan’s attack, to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where he tasted the frustration of defeat with Portugal in World Cup qualifying, Leao has lived both the roar and the sting of elite football over the past year. The decision he makes next will shape the prime of his career.

For now, the only clear picture is this: a Milan star, in a Corinthians shirt, driving himself through drills on a Brazilian pitch while Europe wonders who will truly come calling.