Dalot Backs Leao to Stay and Shine at Milan as Portugal's Stars Align for World Cup 2026

Diogo Dalot has sent a warm message across Europe to his Portugal teammates, declaring his hope that Rafael Leao will resist the lure of a big-money transfer and continue his journey at AC Milan. As reported by Football Italia, the Manchester United defender spoke glowingly about his compatriots Leao and Gonçalo Ramos, offering a glimpse into the tight-knit bond within the Portuguese camp as the Seleção count down to the 2026 World Cup. "I hope Leao can stay at Milan and continue having success there," Dalot said of the winger, whose explosive pace and unpredictable dribbling have made him one of Serie A's most feared attackers — and a persistent target for Premier League suitors. Dalot knows Leao's talents better than most. The pair rose through Portugal's youth ranks together and were part of the national setup long before Leao became a talisman at the San Siro. Their friendship, forged in Lisbon's famed academy system, remains one of the quiet pillars of the Portugal dressing room. The full-back also reserved generous words for Gonçalo Ramos, the striker who announced himself on the global stage with a stunning hat-trick against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup and has since matured into a reliable source of goals for club and country. For Portugal, harmony off the pitch could prove as valuable as talent on it. With the 2026 tournament — the first to feature 48 teams, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada — fast approaching, Roberto Martínez's squad is widely viewed as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Leao's club future, meanwhile, remains one of the lingering sagas of the transfer window. Milan have repeatedly insisted their star man is not for sale, but interest from England and beyond has never truly faded. Dalot's public endorsement serves as a gentle nudge in both directions — to Milan to hold onto their jewel, and to Leao himself that his current home may be the right one after all. For now, attention shifts to international duty, where Dalot, Leao and Ramos will look to sharpen their understanding ahead of football's grandest stage. If Portugal are to go further than the quarter-final exits that have haunted recent campaigns, they will need Leao at his electrifying best — wherever he plays his club football. But if Dalot gets his wish, that magic will continue to light up the San Siro, with a revitalised Leao arriving at the World Cup in 2026 ready to torment defenders on the biggest stage of all.