Rafael Leao 'Ordered To Pay Former Club Sporting Lisbon €16.5m After Losing Appeal Over Contract Dispute'

AC Milan forward Rafael Leao has been ordered to pay his former club Sporting Lisbon €16.5m (£13.8m) after losing an appeal over a contract dispute, according to reports in Italy.

Leao unilaterally terminated his contract with Sporting in 2018, citing an incident in which angry fans attacked their own players after breaking into the club’s training base.

The Portugal international would later join Lille on a free transfer, playing one season in French football, before moving on to Milan in 2019.

Leao left Sporting Lisbon in 2018 before joining Lille on a free transfer (Image: Alamy)

In March 2020, Leao was ordered to pay Sporting €16.5m by the Portuguese Sports Arbitration Court for ‘unlawful termination of the sports employment contract’.

Sporting had originally requested €45m (£37.7m) based on the release clause in Leao’s contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

However, a specially appointed independent figure deemed that a fee of between €15m and €18m would be sufficient compensation for the Portuguese club.

Leao attempted to gain an annulment of the decision at the Lisbon Court of Appeal.

The Portugal international is now at AC Milan (Image: Alamy)

But Italian outlet Calcio e Finanza claims Leao’s appeal has now been rejected.

He must now pay the fee to Sporting Lisbon or take his appeal to the Portuguese Supreme Court.

It is a major blow for the 22-year-old, who has been in impressive form for Milan this season.

He has scored eight goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for Stefano Pioli's side.