Is Rafael Leão at Barcelona a dream or a reality? Neither if it depends on Milan

It's an emotional, full-of-surprises, and, of course, full-of-speculation sport: soccer. And in relation to the transfer market, drama is right up front. And lately, one name leading the way is Rafael Leão. With second-to-none talent, Barcelona has always aimed high, much more so now that their financial situation is extremely delicate. But reality this time around might turn out to be a bit harsher than one may have thought.

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Rafael Leão is only 25 years old, with powerful physiognomy and able to overcome defenders as if they were cones. This made him an important player for AC Milan, but as with everything that shines, his talent did not go unnoticed by the big boys in Europe, with Barcelona showing interest.

However, soccer is not just desire; it involves figures. And that is where the dream begins to come a cropper. Milan do not intend to lose their jewel without a fight and a pricey one. Giorgio Furlani, CEO of the Italian club, did not hesitate in proclaiming that there existed "no, zero chance" of Leão leaving Milan before the market closed. These words, therefore, came as a blow to the hearts of the Culés fans who were already dreaming of seeing the Portuguese star at the Camp Nou. On the other side, though, it's an encouragement to the Rossoneri fans that they will still be able to count on the left winger.

AC Milan's resistance does not concern finances. They know Leão is on the cusp of making the jump into the world elite, and losing a player of his magnitude would be a huge blow to their ambitions. The Rossoneri have been fighting for a comeback to the top ever since they were punished for financial fair play. Furlani was keen to stress that Leão is "100% guaranteed" at the club, rubbing in the fact that there's no negotiation, no matter how much Barcelona insist.

On the other side, there's Barcelona trying to keep the dream alive through their agent, veteran Jorge Mendes. However, will the willpower of Mendes be enough to open a breach in this wall that Milan is imposing? Barely. The Catalan club knows that, still stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of reorganizing its economy, the signing of Leão would be a Herculean effort, which it might not have the capacity for.

However, there is one thing that the history of soccer has taught us: never rule out a last-minute surprise. This time, though, it might be Italian obstinacy acting as the variable that keeps Rafael Leão out of Catalonia for another year. On the other side, Barcelona, in such need of a left winger, sees in Leão a piece to make a difference but may have to wait a little longer.