Tottenham Hotspur hope to leverage Fabio Paratici’s good relations with AC Milan to land Rafael Leao
Tottenham Hotspur have been looking to bring in high-ceiling players in their attacking roster in the ongoing summer transfer window, and after having already welcomed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, Daniel Levy doesn’t want to stop there, as he already has Rodrygo Goes on the radar at N17 alongside Rafael Leao, with the Portuguese also being in conversation for a possible move to Hotspur Way.
As the North Londoners consider moving for the former Lille winger, there is one name that could prove crucial to getting through and making a move for Leao to Tottenham possible: Fabio Paratici.
Tottenham to use Paratici in a deal for Rafael Leao
According to transfer expert Ben Jacobs via We Are Tottenham TV on Youtube, Paratici could be “parachuted in” if the Lilywhites are pushing hard to sign the 26-year-old this summer, and while Paratici is not the official sporting director at Hotspur Way following his FIFA ban, he does remain one of the most trusted advisors behind the scenes to Daniel Levy, and his connections in the Serie A can again reap a lot of dividends for the North Londoners.
Jacobs went on to claim that Paratici still maintains an “excellent relationship” with AC Milan as well as with Leao’s representatives, and he could well broker a deal for the Portuguese if Tottenham are serious about a move.
Leao has always been one of the untouchables for the Serie A giants, but now with no Champions League football at San Siro in the upcoming 2025/26 season, complemented by growing financial pressure to secure his signature, Milan may well have to end up listening to offers if the amount is right.
And according to Jacobs, if the Rossoneri had qualified for the Champions League, “the door on a Leao exit would’ve been entirely shut.”
Jacobs said:
“They’re going to have to determine, is it Leao? The interest there is genuine, but it’s always been difficult to get Leao away from Milan.
“Paratici would be parachuted in to be involved in that deal because he has an excellent relationship and, to my knowledge, the player’s side too.
“So the glimmer of hope with Leao is that Milan need to bring in some finances, they don’t have any European football, and if they were heading into this season with Champions League football, then the door on a Leao exit would’ve been entirely shut.”
A statement signing
There is no denying how Tottenham are to sign Leao; he would be the headline signing given that he brings that explosive rapidness upfront alongside his capacity to dominate that left channel. And given how good he is at running into spaces, Leao would ideally suit the system that North Londoners are expected to deploy at N17 under Thomas Frank.
Would you take Leao at Hotspur Way? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.