Alessandro Costacurta says AC Milan will not lose a Ballon d’Or-level player if Rafael Leao moves on this summer. The former defender feels Leao’s possible departure, while important, does not match the exits of past Milan icons and will not define the club’s future direction.

Costacurta, who lifted seven Serie A titles and five Champions League trophies with AC Milan, draws a sharp line between Leao and previous world stars. Costacurta told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Personally, I’ve never considered him a Ballon d’Or-level player,” and stressed that true greats operate on another level.

Costacurta explains that he played alongside elite forwards and uses those careers as his reference point. He said: “I played with some of those: They are at an entirely different level. If he leaves, you’re not losing a Kaka or an [Andriy] Shevchenko.” That comparison underlines Costacurta’s view of Leao’s status.

The former Italy international also questions Leao’s leadership profile within the AC Milan squad. Costacurta stated: “Rafa has never been a champion like that, even if he thinks he is. If he changes his mind, and if the real leaders come in, and he is given a different role, he could also still be useful in the right context.”

Rafael Leao has already suggested a move could happen in the upcoming window. Speaking to Sport TV in Portugal, the forward indicated a desire for change and said the Premier League or LaLiga would “make more of my talent.” That comment increases talk around a possible departure from AC Milan.

Costacurta still believes AC Milan can rely on Leao, if expectations are clearer. He concluded: “But he has to be seen for what he is: a very good player, not the star of the team.” That assessment frames Leao as important, yet not the central figure in Milan’s project.

Leao has built a strong record since joining AC Milan from Lille for a reported 29.5m before the 2019-20 season. The 27-year-old has become central to the Rossoneri attack, scoring 64 goals and supplying 43 assists across 227 Serie A matches, during a spell that includes the 2021-22 Scudetto.

Across that period, few Serie A players have matched Rafael Leao’s direct goal involvement for AC Milan. Only Lautaro Martinez, Ciro Immobile, Domenico Berardi, Romelu Lukaku and Dusan Vlahovic have higher combined totals of goals and assists in the league since Leao arrived at San Siro.

Leao’s individual profile around AC Milan continues to grow off the pitch as well. The club recently marked his birthday with a social media post, underlining his popularity with supporters and his status as a face of the current side.

For AC Milan, the situation around Rafael Leao mixes strong numbers with questions about hierarchy. The club may face offers from Premier League or LaLiga sides, yet Costacurta’s comments suggest Milan can adapt either way, treating Leao as a high-level contributor rather than an untouchable star.