Barcelona have the most electrifying attack in world football right now, as Hansi Flick has his side on a record-breaking pace, returning the Blaugrana to their status as the most entertaining team to watch in this sport.
That’s been the benchmark Barcelona have missed since the days of MSN, and, statistically speaking, Barcelona are off to a hotter start with the trio of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal.
But even as Raphinha has broken out as a Ballon d’Or candidate this season under Flick, matching Lewandowski and Yamal in quality, the Blaugrana are eyeing an even bigger attacking signing than the bold summer 2024 gamble on RB Leipzig man Dani Olmo.
With Lewandowski still going strong, Barcelona are pivoting away from Joan Laporta’s original dream of signing Manchester City superstar No. 9 Erling Haaland and instead focusing on Laporta’s other dream get.
AC Milan are starting Rafael Leao again after Paulo Fonseca’s hare-brained decision to let his most talented player rot on the bench, and Leao spearheaded an upset of Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Leao has been on Barca’s list for several months, but the Portuguese international is starting to become a stronger possibility for the Catalan club, especially as frustration grows with his treatment in Milan.
According to Diario Sport’s Toni Juanmarti, Rafael Leao dreams of joining Barcelona to such an extent that he would give the green light to a transfer without any questions ask.
The 2021/22 Serie A MVP led Milan to their last Scudetto, bringing the Rossoneri back to relevancy. And yet he has sometimes been treated as a pariah by the press and the club itself, even though he carried them at times in the past few seasons.
Raphinha is excelling on the left wing in a fee role, but Leao is a true right-footed left winger with the explosion and eye for goal that Flick could use to turn into a 30-goal monster with the likes of Olmo, Yamal, Pedri, and Gavi around him.
At this point, it would be a surprise if Leao doesn’t join Barcelona next summer, because there is so much smoke linking him away from Milan and linking him to sunny Barcelona.
