In the pre‑Sporting press conference, Rafael Leão spoke warmly about the Turks with a clear reference to his recent years in Milan.

Just over a week after his permanent move to Turkey, Rafael Leão immediately returned to the headlines. During the press conference presenting the match against Sporting, a first‑round group‑stage Champions League fixture, the Portuguese winger expressed his full enthusiasm for the new adventure. Between the appeal of facing the club that launched him into top‑level football and the recounting of the details of his transfer to Galatasaray, his statements revealed an evident jab at Milan.

The recovered European stage and the courting of the Istanbul club

For the class ’99 player, the absolute priority was to regain the stage of the top continental competition, a showcase the red‑and‑black club had missed in the last two seasons. The striker therefore expressed his gratitude to the Turkish management, recalling the very long summer negotiation:

"I thank Galatasaray for all the effort they put into the transfer. They were looking for me for two months. I have always believed in Galatasaray and I came here. They gave me the chance to return to playing in the Champions League. The Galatasaray fans are incredible."

A long courting culminating in the definitive farewell to the Rossoneri

The interest of the Giallorossi in the former number ten Milan player was not at all a last‑minute head‑butt. As confirmed by Leão himself, Galatasaray worked behind the scenes for more than sixty days before sealing the decisive agreement with Milan, guaranteeing the Portuguese a top‑level role in Europe that he was seeking.