Tare says Leao's football priority faded before Galatasaray move and Liverpool pulled out of Gomez deal

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Former Milan director Igli Tare said Rafael Leao's football commitment had faded before the forward joined Galatasaray, and that Liverpool withdrew from an agreed deal for Joe Gomez after a separate transfer collapsed. Tare made the comments on the Sky Sport Italia Calcio Unplugged podcast, as reported by Football Italia.

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Tare was at Milan for the 2025/26 campaign before being fired in May along with coach Max Allegri, CEO Giorgio Furlani and director Geoffrey Moncada after the club failed to secure a Champions League spot. Leao's contract was due to run to June 2028, but Milan were not prepared to offer him a new deal at his wages, and it had become apparent he would not stay. A buyer took time to find, with Galatasaray eventually agreeing a deal late in the transfer window.

Tare said he had known Leao only from the outside before meeting him and found him "an extraordinary guy" whom he cared for greatly as a person. But he argued the player fell short of expectations, saying: "I think football was no longer a priority for him. That's how to read the situation." Tare said Leao was focused more on life outside football, including music and fashion, noting he released a rap album last year. He said he never doubted Leao's love for Milan and that the player suffered at not performing consistently, with fitness problems leaving him with "the handbrake on." Tare said he held more individual meetings with Leao than any other Milan player and each time sensed he wanted to do more, but that wanting is sometimes not enough. Asked whether Leao could have been sold in 2025, Tare said no concrete offers ever arrived.

Tare also described a chaotic summer 2025 transfer strategy, saying Milan changed system five days before the window closed, moving from a 4-3-3 to a three-man defence, which made it hard to find a player of the required level in that time. He said Milan were unlucky: Manuel Akanji went to Inter because Milan were not in the Champions League, and Milan then had an agreement with Liverpool for Gomez. However, when Marc Guehi's move from Crystal Palace to Liverpool collapsed at the last minute, Liverpool pulled out. Tare said Milan had been waiting only for that move to sign the paperwork, and to avoid being without centre-backs they signed Odogu at the last minute as a signing for the future.