Osimhen and Leao, the 200 million Napoli-Milan challenge in the Champions League – Corriere.it

Young, strong and with a future yet to be written. Victor and Rafa, the gold of Naples and Milan. A total value of 200 million euros, divided between 120 for the Nigerian and 80 for the Portuguese. Tomorrow evening they will be facing each other in the inside-out duel that is up for grabs in the semi-final of the Champions League. Osimhen was the big absentee in the first leg. And now he wants his revenge. “We are waiting to be able to celebrate the Scudetto,” he told the Tg5, but the desire is great to impress with Napoli also in the Champions League, indeed perhaps above all on this stage, where the Neapolitans have little history and less experience. Osi made it clear that he is fine in the twenty minutes in which he played against Verona after the stop due to the muscle injury. Grit, anger and desire to rekindle the goal machine that jammed without him.

In addition to talent and young age, Victor and Rafa have another thing in common: Lille. Both gained experience in France. Osi took over from Leao in 2019, when the latter moved to Milan. Then in Serie A they found their America. Osimhen is the object of desire of Premier clubs but also of Bayern Munich. He winks at Naples (“it’s the best place to stay”) but is fascinated by the top leagues. De Laurentiis holds onto his market man (purchased for 70 million) barring indecent offers: the current value is 120 million and there are those who assure that even at this figure he would not be willing to sell him. Meanwhile, the showcase of tomorrow’s stars is the most important. Osimhen is loaded, like Leao.

Rafa is AC Milan’s gold. If he shines, the Devil shines too. We saw it in the first leg, it was confirmed on Saturday in Bologna: when he entered, the danger index skyrocketed. After dark months, in which he had lost his iconic smile, the smile of the year of the Scudetto is back. The catchphrase of the contract renewal conditioned him: too many thoughts, too many voices to listen to. It is no coincidence that with the restart of negotiations he has recovered his lost serenity. “Confidence is growing,” admitted Maldini. Leao reiterated his intention to stay to the manager and also to some comrades.

However, the renewal of the agreement expiring in June 2024 is fundamental: it could close at 7 million net a year, more than four times the current 1.5. We are working on the duration, the key could be an extension of the bridge until 2025 or ’26, in order to avoid an anxious countdown for both the player and Milan. In this sense, however, the Champions League is decisive: the 50 million from qualifying for the next edition as well as the 20 that would come from passing to the semifinals of this one serve Milan to sit down at the negotiating table with more strength. To retain a star, or rather two, a large stage is essential. That’s why tomorrow night is worth much more than a game. But a piece of the future.