Rafael Leao has dismissed an Italian newspaper report describing him as a potential “factor of tension” at AC Milan, responding on social media with the single word: “lie”.
The Portuguese forward shared a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, which claimed that his presence around the squad could be considered undesirable during the forthcoming season. Leao’s response was brief and ironic, but marked a public rejection of the way he has been portrayed in the Italian media.
The report represents another criticism of the player from the Italian press, which has again focused on his position at the club. According to the publication, AC Milan view Leao as a possible source of tension within the group rather than an entirely positive influence ahead of the new campaign.
Leao chose to address the report directly after it was published. By quoting the article on social media and describing it as “lie”, he challenged the accuracy of the claims without offering a detailed explanation or addressing each point individually.
The incident follows comments the 26-year-old made immediately after the end of last season. Leao, who has played for AC Milan since 2019, expressed his disappointment at the time and appeared to suggest that he was ready to leave the club straight away.
Those remarks prompted further attention around his future and helped fuel speculation about his relationship with the club. However, the latest response suggests that Leao is unhappy with at least some of the coverage surrounding him and believes that reports about his role inside the team are misleading.
His decision to react publicly is unusual in that it places the player’s own view directly alongside the original report. Rather than issuing a long statement, Leao used the publication’s wording and added a short rebuttal, making clear that he disputes the central claim.
La Gazzetta dello Sport’s report has therefore become the latest point of contention between Leao and sections of the Italian media. The newspaper’s description of him as a “factor of tension” contrasts with the player’s insistence that the account is untrue.
Leao has been at AC Milan since 2019, and his comments at the conclusion of the previous season had already created uncertainty over his intentions. His latest social media post adds to the focus on his situation, while offering no indication beyond his denial of whether he intends to remain with the club or leave.
For now, the only direct message from the player is that the report he shared should not be accepted as an accurate description of his position at AC Milan.
