Manchester United have been linked with a summer transfer swoop for AC Milan star Rafael Leao
Rafael Leao has dropped a huge hint about a possible transfer to Manchester United.
Rafael Leao has spoken about Manchester United(Image: DeFodi Images, DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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Rafael Leao may have dropped a major hint about a possible move to Manchester United this summer. The AC Milan forward has revealed United are his favourite Premier League team due to his idiol, Cristiano Ronaldo playing for the club.
In an interview with the Cernucci podcast, Leao, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, was asked if he watches much Premier League football and who his favourite team are.
"Yeah of course," he replied. "I like (Manchester) United because my idol is Cristiano Ronaldo, so back then, I used to watch them. I like Arsenal also."
United are just one of the top European sides being linked with a move for the Portuguese international, who could be available for a cut price fee in the region of £43m after AC Milan missed out on European football.
Chelsea and Barcelona have also been linked with a move for the 26-year-old forward, who has scored 60 goals in 291 appearances for Milan.
Leao has also been connected with a move to Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, with Galatasaray and Fenerbahce keen on signing the forward.
However, recent reports claim he has no interest in a move to either. United are understood to be in the market for a new winger this summer, ahead of a return to the Champions League.
Rafael Leao during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC.
Manchester United have shown a transfer interest in AC Milan winger Rafael Leao. (Image: Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images)
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United are on the verge of signing Atalanta midfielder Ederson for a fee of £38m and are looking to bolster their ranks further.
Michael Carrick helped guide the club to a third-placed finish and a return to Europe's elite competition, but United know they need to add more depth to their squad.
The new United boss has already outlined what he wants to achieve in the upcoming transfer window and said: "I think the beauty of the next transfer window, for everybody, it's always the biggest thing in the world, and the most important transfer window of all time, for every club, I think.
"That's just the nature of how it's been created, to be honest, and I think, again, as a football club, you want to keep moving forward. We certainly do. As a football club, we want to keep moving forward.
"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."