AC Milan's opening week of the 2026/27 Serie A season has been defined as much by transfer turmoil as by what happened on the pitch. The club won 2-1 away at Torino on August 23, a result that gave Ruben Amorim's side three points and fifth place in the early standings, but the bigger story surrounds Rafael Leao's expected exit from the club after seven years.

Galatasaray and Aston Villa are locked in a contest for Leao's signature, with the Turkish club submitting an offer of 45 million euros plus bonuses, as reported by GOAL. Milan have set their asking price at 50 million euros and appear willing to sell, with the club ready to accept whichever destination Leao chooses. The drawn-out saga has grown increasingly difficult to manage, and the club's position is clear: they want it resolved before the transfer window closes.

Leao's departure has been made more palatable by the emergence of 19-year-old Alphadjo Cissé, who scored on his Serie A debut at Torino and impressed Amorim enough to earn a starting role at trequartista. The manager described him as looking "like the most experienced player on the pitch," per GOAL's match report. Cissé's performance, combined with strong showings from Musah and De Winter, pointed to genuine depth in Amorim's squad.

Milan also confirmed the departure of Christopher Nkunku, who returned to Leipzig on a loan deal worth four million euros with a 28 million euro purchase option, GOAL confirmed. The club is now scouting replacements, with Young Boys trequartista Alvyn Sanches among the names being monitored. Milan host Venezia at San Siro on August 28 with the Leao situation still unresolved.